diff --git a/src/poc/direct.c b/src/poc/direct.c
index ad9e36a28..6c9e0f175 100644
--- a/src/poc/direct.c
+++ b/src/poc/direct.c
@@ -64,5 +64,5 @@ int main(void){
   }else{
     ret = -1;
   }
-  return ret ? EXIT_FAILURE : EXIT_SUCCESS;
+  return ncdirect_stop(n) || ret ? EXIT_FAILURE : EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }