diff --git a/tests/tpm-emu.c b/tests/tpm-emu.c
index 4dada76834..8c2bd53cad 100644
--- a/tests/tpm-emu.c
+++ b/tests/tpm-emu.c
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ void *tpm_emu_ctrl_thread(void *data)
         case CMD_SHUTDOWN: {
             ptm_res res = 0;
             qio_channel_write(ioc, (char *)&res, sizeof(res), &error_abort);
-            qio_channel_close(s->tpm_ioc, &error_abort);
+            /* the tpm data thread is expected to finish now */
             g_thread_join(s->emu_tpm_thread);
             break;
         }