diff --git a/src/timer.c b/src/timer.c
index cd9813b..481a71f 100644
--- a/src/timer.c
+++ b/src/timer.c
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ int uev_timer_init(uev_ctx_t *ctx, uev_t *w, uev_cb_t *cb, void *arg, int timeou
 		_uev_watcher_stop(w);
 	exit:
 		close(fd);
+		w->fd = -1;
 		return -1;
 	}