diff --git a/plumbum/commands/base.py b/plumbum/commands/base.py
index 8511ec33..716c87ba 100644
--- a/plumbum/commands/base.py
+++ b/plumbum/commands/base.py
@@ -400,6 +400,8 @@ def popen(self, args=(), **kwargs):
         dstproc = self.dstcmd.popen(**kwargs)
         # allow p1 to receive a SIGPIPE if p2 exits
         srcproc.stdout.close()
+        if srcproc.stderr:
+            srcproc.stderr.close()
         if srcproc.stdin and src_kwargs.get("stdin") != PIPE:
             srcproc.stdin.close()
         dstproc.srcproc = srcproc