diff --git a/db/db_impl.cc b/db/db_impl.cc
index 970672b12..471853e5c 100644
--- a/db/db_impl.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl.cc
@@ -2937,6 +2937,8 @@ Status DBImpl::IngestExternalFile(
   }
   dummy_sv_ctx.Clean();
   if (!status.ok()) {
+    InstrumentedMutexLock l(&mutex_);
+    ReleaseFileNumberFromPendingOutputs(pending_output_elem);
     return status;
   }