diff --git a/src/providers/postgres/qgspostgresprovider.cpp b/src/providers/postgres/qgspostgresprovider.cpp
index 298f9d7a64e..278a524062b 100644
--- a/src/providers/postgres/qgspostgresprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/providers/postgres/qgspostgresprovider.cpp
@@ -4726,6 +4726,7 @@ QGISEXTERN QString loadStyle( const QString &uri, QString &errCause )
 
   if ( !tableExists( *conn, QStringLiteral( "layer_styles" ) ) )
   {
+    conn->unref();
     return QLatin1String( "" );
   }