diff --git a/cmd/cortex/chaincmd.go b/cmd/cortex/chaincmd.go
index 65e3bc8ddb..73c2a24fb4 100644
--- a/cmd/cortex/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/cortex/chaincmd.go
@@ -337,7 +337,8 @@ func exportChain(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		utils.Fatalf("This command requires an argument.")
 	}
 	stack := makeFullNode(ctx)
-	chain, _ := utils.MakeChain(ctx, stack, true)
+	chain, db := utils.MakeChain(ctx, stack, true)
+	defer db.Close()
 	start := time.Now()
 
 	var err error
@@ -371,6 +372,7 @@ func importPreimages(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 	stack := makeFullNode(ctx)
 	diskdb := utils.MakeChainDatabase(ctx, stack, false).(ctxcdb.Database)
+	defer diskdb.Close()
 
 	start := time.Now()
 	if err := utils.ImportPreimages(diskdb, ctx.Args().First()); err != nil {
@@ -387,6 +389,7 @@ func exportPreimages(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 	stack := makeFullNode(ctx)
 	diskdb := utils.MakeChainDatabase(ctx, stack, false).(ctxcdb.Database)
+	defer diskdb.Close()
 
 	start := time.Now()
 	if err := utils.ExportPreimages(diskdb, ctx.Args().First()); err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/cortex/verkle.go b/cmd/cortex/verkle.go
index bf72bde2cb..5c82d00e35 100644
--- a/cmd/cortex/verkle.go
+++ b/cmd/cortex/verkle.go
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ func verifyVerkle(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	defer stack.Close()
 
 	chaindb := utils.MakeChainDatabase(ctx, stack, true)
+	defer chaindb.Close()
 	headBlock := rawdb.ReadHeadBlock(chaindb)
 	if headBlock == nil {
 		log.Error("Failed to load head block")
@@ -168,6 +169,7 @@ func expandVerkle(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	defer stack.Close()
 
 	chaindb := utils.MakeChainDatabase(ctx, stack, true)
+	defer chaindb.Close()
 	var (
 		rootC   common.Hash
 		keylist [][]byte