--- Modules/_sqlite/connection.c.old	2016-02-18 18:31:14.362100955 +0100
+++ Modules/_sqlite/connection.c	2016-02-18 18:38:52.791649335 +0100
@@ -339,14 +339,16 @@
     if (self->db) {
         Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS
         rc = sqlite3_close(self->db);
-        Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS
-
         if (rc != SQLITE_OK) {
             _pysqlite_seterror(self->db, NULL);
-            return NULL;
         } else {
             self->db = NULL;
         }
+        Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS
+
+        if (rc != SQLITE_OK) {
+            return NULL;
+        }
     }
 
     Py_INCREF(Py_None);