diff --git a/src/java.desktop/windows/native/libawt/windows/ThemeReader.cpp b/src/java.desktop/windows/native/libawt/windows/ThemeReader.cpp
index 4bbeb9a7937..08e03d00959 100644
--- a/src/java.desktop/windows/native/libawt/windows/ThemeReader.cpp
+++ b/src/java.desktop/windows/native/libawt/windows/ThemeReader.cpp
@@ -421,6 +421,7 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_sun_awt_windows_ThemeReader_paintBackground
             NULL, 0);
     if (hDibSection == NULL) {
         DTRACE_PRINTLN("Error creating DIB section");
+        DeleteDC(memDC);
         ReleaseDC(NULL,defaultDC);
         return;
     }