diff --git a/src/db/transaction.ts b/src/db/transaction.ts
index edaf4cd..76db80b 100644
--- a/src/db/transaction.ts
+++ b/src/db/transaction.ts
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ export async function transaction<T, M extends IsolationLevel>(
 
   if (txnSeq >= Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER - 1) txnSeq = 0;  // wrap around
 
+  let released = false;
   const
     txnId = txnSeq++,
     clientIsOurs = typeofQueryable(txnClientOrQueryable) === 'pool',
@@ -140,9 +141,15 @@ export async function transaction<T, M extends IsolationLevel>(
       }
     }
 
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (clientIsOurs && !released) { 
+      txnClient.release(err);
+      released = true;
+    }
+    throw err;
   } finally {
     delete txnClient._zapatos;
-    if (clientIsOurs) txnClient.release();
+    if (clientIsOurs && !released) txnClient.release();
   }
 }