diff --git a/src/exchange/taler-exchange-aggregator.c b/src/exchange/taler-exchange-aggregator.c
index 64b05d0f7..08ea8abe9 100644
--- a/src/exchange/taler-exchange-aggregator.c
+++ b/src/exchange/taler-exchange-aggregator.c
@@ -993,6 +993,7 @@ run_transfers (void *cls)
     GNUNET_log (GNUNET_ERROR_TYPE_ERROR,
                 "Failed to obtain database session!\n");
     global_ret = GNUNET_SYSERR;
+    GNUNET_SCHEDULER_shutdown ();
     return;
   }
   if (GNUNET_OK !=