diff --git a/app/tests/test_download_queue.py b/app/tests/test_download_queue.py
index 4b375f6..763b047 100644
--- a/app/tests/test_download_queue.py
+++ b/app/tests/test_download_queue.py
@@ -898,6 +898,40 @@ def _make_download(dq_env, *, download_type="video", status="downloading", filen
     )
 
 
+def test_download_close_releases_status_queue(dq_env):
+    download = _make_download(dq_env)
+    status_queue = MagicMock()
+    proc = MagicMock()
+    download.status_queue = status_queue
+    download.proc = proc
+
+    download.close()
+
+    proc.close.assert_called_once()
+    assert download.status_queue is None
+
+
+def test_download_close_releases_status_queue_without_process(dq_env):
+    download = _make_download(dq_env)
+    download.status_queue = MagicMock()
+
+    download.close()
+
+    assert download.status_queue is None
+
+
+def test_download_close_releases_status_queue_when_process_close_fails(dq_env):
+    download = _make_download(dq_env)
+    download.status_queue = MagicMock()
+    download.proc = MagicMock()
+    download.proc.close.side_effect = RuntimeError('close failed')
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match='close failed'):
+        download.close()
+
+    assert download.status_queue is None
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_post_download_cleanup_clears_filename_on_error(dq_env):
     notifier = AsyncMock()
diff --git a/app/ytdl.py b/app/ytdl.py
index 11dd237..be36bf9 100644
--- a/app/ytdl.py
+++ b/app/ytdl.py
@@ -787,8 +787,11 @@ class Download:
 
     def close(self):
         log.info(f"Closing download process for: {self.info.title}")
-        if self.started():
-            self.proc.close()
+        try:
+            if self.started():
+                self.proc.close()
+        finally:
+            self.status_queue = None
 
     def running(self):
         try: