diff --git a/chainregistry.go b/chainregistry.go
index 55fba4f3..48a086a3 100644
--- a/chainregistry.go
+++ b/chainregistry.go
@@ -730,14 +730,15 @@ func initNeutrinoBackend(chainDir string) (*neutrino.ChainService, func(), error
 			"client: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	cleanUp := func() {
-		db.Close()
-		neutrinoCS.Stop()
-	}
 	if err := neutrinoCS.Start(); err != nil {
-		cleanUp()
+		db.Close()
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 
+	cleanUp := func() {
+		neutrinoCS.Stop()
+		db.Close()
+	}
+
 	return neutrinoCS, cleanUp, nil
 }