diff --git a/functions/onprem/worker/worker.go b/functions/onprem/worker/worker.go
index d652c1f9..d5e52cd8 100644
--- a/functions/onprem/worker/worker.go
+++ b/functions/onprem/worker/worker.go
@@ -1301,6 +1301,9 @@ func handleExecutionResult(workflowExecution shuffle.WorkflowExecution) {
 			log.Printf("[ERROR] Unable to create docker client (3): %s", err)
 			return
 		}
+	}
+
+	if isKubernetes == "true" {
 		defer dockercli.Close()
 	}