diff --git a/pymodbus/client/udp.py b/pymodbus/client/udp.py
index 9f70bbba1..5b50a22cf 100644
--- a/pymodbus/client/udp.py
+++ b/pymodbus/client/udp.py
@@ -204,6 +204,8 @@ def close(self):
 
         :meta private:
         """
+        if self.socket:
+            self.socket.close()
         self.socket = None
 
     def send(self, request: bytes, addr: tuple | None = None) -> int:
diff --git a/test/client/test_client_sync.py b/test/client/test_client_sync.py
index da36b8a77..891b04100 100755
--- a/test/client/test_client_sync.py
+++ b/test/client/test_client_sync.py
@@ -61,6 +61,15 @@ def test_udp_client_is_socket_open(self):
         client = ModbusUdpClient("127.0.0.1")
         assert client.is_socket_open()
 
+    def test_udp_client_close_releases_socket(self):
+        """Test the udp client close method releases the socket."""
+        client = ModbusUdpClient("127.0.0.1")
+        assert client.connect()
+        sock = client.socket
+        client.close()
+        assert sock.fileno() == -1
+        assert not client.connected
+
     def test_udp_client_send(self):
         """Test the udp client send method."""
         client = ModbusUdpClient("127.0.0.1")