diff --git a/kubespawner/reflector.py b/kubespawner/reflector.py
index c3271916..12f30f4a 100644
--- a/kubespawner/reflector.py
+++ b/kubespawner/reflector.py
@@ -389,6 +389,7 @@ async def _watch_and_update(self):
                 self.log.debug("%s watcher timeout", self.kind)
             finally:
                 w.stop()
+                await w.close()
                 if self._stopping:
                     self.log.info("%s watcher stopped: outer", self.kind)
                     break