diff --git a/nse_main.cc b/nse_main.cc
index 98347a2da..5e29afff2 100644
--- a/nse_main.cc
+++ b/nse_main.cc
@@ -540,5 +540,8 @@ void script_scan (std::vector<Target *> &targets)
 void close_nse (void)
 {
   if (L_NSE != NULL)
+  {
     lua_close(L_NSE);
+    L_NSE = NULL;
+  }
 }