diff --git a/scapy/automaton.py b/scapy/automaton.py
index f9b4d4ef202..ba7bafc71a2 100644
--- a/scapy/automaton.py
+++ b/scapy/automaton.py
@@ -226,7 +226,11 @@ def close(self):
             os.close(self.__rd)
             os.close(self.__wr)
             if WINDOWS:
-                self._winclose()
+                try:
+                    self._winclose()
+                except ImportError:
+                    # Python is shutting down
+                    pass
 
     def __repr__(self):
         # type: () -> str