diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/pool/validation/DefaultDirContextValidator.java b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/pool/validation/DefaultDirContextValidator.java
index 22f31f99f0..53db23ed15 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/pool/validation/DefaultDirContextValidator.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/pool/validation/DefaultDirContextValidator.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 
 import javax.naming.NamingEnumeration;
+import javax.naming.NamingException;
 import javax.naming.directory.DirContext;
 import javax.naming.directory.SearchControls;
 import javax.naming.directory.SearchResult;
@@ -165,9 +166,10 @@ public void setSearchControls(SearchControls searchControls) {
     public boolean validateDirContext(DirContextType contextType, DirContext dirContext) {
         Assert.notNull(contextType, "contextType may not be null");
         Assert.notNull(dirContext, "dirContext may not be null");
-        
+
+        NamingEnumeration<SearchResult> searchResults = null;        
         try {
-            final NamingEnumeration<SearchResult> searchResults = dirContext.search(this.base, this.filter, this.searchControls);
+            searchResults = dirContext.search(this.base, this.filter, this.searchControls);
 
             if (searchResults.hasMore()) {
                 this.logger.debug("DirContext '{}' passed validation.", dirContext);
@@ -179,6 +181,14 @@ public boolean validateDirContext(DirContextType contextType, DirContext dirCont
             this.logger.debug("DirContext '{}' failed validation with an exception.", dirContext, e);
             return false;
         }
+        finally {
+            if (searchResults != null) {
+               try {
+                    searchResults.close();
+                } catch (NamingException namingException) {
+                }
+            }
+        }
 
         this.logger.debug("DirContext '{}' failed validation.", dirContext);
         return false;
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/pool2/validation/DefaultDirContextValidator.java b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/pool2/validation/DefaultDirContextValidator.java
index 716fb97eb6..8fb655c81d 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/pool2/validation/DefaultDirContextValidator.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/pool2/validation/DefaultDirContextValidator.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 
 import javax.naming.NamingEnumeration;
+import javax.naming.NamingException;
 import javax.naming.directory.DirContext;
 import javax.naming.directory.SearchControls;
 import javax.naming.directory.SearchResult;
@@ -166,12 +167,13 @@ public boolean validateDirContext(DirContextType contextType, DirContext dirCont
         Assert.notNull(contextType, "contextType may not be null");
         Assert.notNull(dirContext, "dirContext may not be null");
         
+        NamingEnumeration<SearchResult> searchResults = null;
         try {
-            final NamingEnumeration<SearchResult> searchResults = dirContext.search(this.base, this.filter, this.searchControls);
+            searchResults = dirContext.search(this.base, this.filter, this.searchControls);
 
             if (searchResults.hasMore()) {
                 this.logger.debug("DirContext '{}' passed validation.", dirContext);
-
+ 
                 return true;
             }
         }
@@ -179,6 +181,14 @@ public boolean validateDirContext(DirContextType contextType, DirContext dirCont
             this.logger.debug("DirContext '{}' failed validation with an exception.", dirContext, e);
             return false;
         }
+        finally {
+            if (searchResults != null) {
+                try {
+                    searchResults.close();
+                } catch (NamingException namingException) {
+                }
+            }
+        }
 
         this.logger.debug("DirContext '{}' failed validation.", dirContext);
         return false;