diff --git a/go/vt/vtcombo/tablet_map.go b/go/vt/vtcombo/tablet_map.go
index 77b7446fc1d..88b09846edd 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtcombo/tablet_map.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtcombo/tablet_map.go
@@ -254,7 +254,11 @@ func DeleteKs(
 			tablet.tm.Stop()
 			tablet.tm.Close()
 			tablet.qsc.SchemaEngine().Close()
-			err := ts.DeleteTablet(ctx, tablet.alias)
+			err := tablet.qsc.QueryService().Close(ctx)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			err = ts.DeleteTablet(ctx, tablet.alias)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}