diff --git a/packages/next/build/index.ts b/packages/next/build/index.ts
index 1e6eaff734339bc..27ed5cbe45e0d51 100644
--- a/packages/next/build/index.ts
+++ b/packages/next/build/index.ts
@@ -1910,6 +1910,9 @@ export default async function build(
       })
     }
 
+    // ensure the worker is not left hanging
+    staticWorkers.close()
+
     const analysisEnd = process.hrtime(analysisBegin)
     telemetry.record(
       eventBuildOptimize(pagePaths, {
diff --git a/packages/next/lib/worker.ts b/packages/next/lib/worker.ts
index 8182f2b6b0eace1..023d9166e53f37b 100644
--- a/packages/next/lib/worker.ts
+++ b/packages/next/lib/worker.ts
@@ -85,4 +85,13 @@ export class Worker {
     this._worker = undefined
     return worker.end()
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Quietly end the worker if it exists
+   */
+  close(): void {
+    if (this._worker) {
+      this._worker.end()
+    }
+  }
 }