diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/onlineddl/executor.go b/go/vt/vttablet/onlineddl/executor.go
index e8410ea8e16..83888d28ce6 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/onlineddl/executor.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/onlineddl/executor.go
@@ -921,6 +921,7 @@ func (e *Executor) cutOverVReplMigration(ctx context.Context, s *VReplStream) er
 
 		e.updateMigrationStage(ctx, onlineDDL.UUID, "renaming tables")
 		go func() {
+			defer close(renameCompleteChan)
 			_, err := renameConn.Exec(ctx, renameQuery.Query, 1, false)
 			renameCompleteChan <- err
 		}()