diff --git a/modules/tracing/mule-tracer-common/src/main/java/org/mule/runtime/tracer/common/watcher/TracingConfigurationFileWatcher.java b/modules/tracing/mule-tracer-common/src/main/java/org/mule/runtime/tracer/common/watcher/TracingConfigurationFileWatcher.java
index aa947562d6e..4d5f1119508 100644
--- a/modules/tracing/mule-tracer-common/src/main/java/org/mule/runtime/tracer/common/watcher/TracingConfigurationFileWatcher.java
+++ b/modules/tracing/mule-tracer-common/src/main/java/org/mule/runtime/tracer/common/watcher/TracingConfigurationFileWatcher.java
@@ -77,6 +77,12 @@ public void run() {
         checkAndConfigure();
       } catch (InterruptedException ignored) {
         return;
+      } finally {
+        try {
+          watchService.close();
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+          LOGGER.error("Error while closing watch service", e);
+        }
       }
     }
   }