diff --git a/vfs/vfs.go b/vfs/vfs.go
index 68b17f483..8907a6e50 100644
--- a/vfs/vfs.go
+++ b/vfs/vfs.go
@@ -365,6 +365,11 @@ func (vfs *VFS) Shutdown() {
 	activeMu.Unlock()
 
 	vfs.shutdownCache()
+
+	if vfs.pollChan != nil {
+		close(vfs.pollChan)
+		vfs.pollChan = nil
+	}
 }
 
 // CleanUp deletes the contents of the on disk cache