diff --git a/ntfsprogs/ntfscmp.c b/ntfsprogs/ntfscmp.c
index 6cbf77eb..469d1d9a 100644
--- a/ntfsprogs/ntfscmp.c
+++ b/ntfsprogs/ntfscmp.c
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ static void cmp_attribute(ntfs_attr_search_ctx *ctx1,
 		 * If difference exists then it's already reported at the
 		 * attribute header since the mapping pairs must differ.
 		 */
-		return;
+		goto close_attribs;
 	}
 
 	if (na1->type == AT_INDEX_ALLOCATION)