diff --git a/lib/cluster.js b/lib/cluster.js
index e4bbd5f3ff7838..62eb78eeba113e 100644
--- a/lib/cluster.js
+++ b/lib/cluster.js
@@ -703,7 +703,11 @@ function workerInit() {
       const handle = handles[key];
       delete handles[key];
       waitingCount++;
-      handle.owner.close(checkWaitingCount);
+
+      if (handle.owner)
+        handle.owner.close(checkWaitingCount);
+      else
+        handle.close(checkWaitingCount);
     }
 
     checkWaitingCount();