diff --git a/plugins/in_tail/tail_db.c b/plugins/in_tail/tail_db.c
index f0a75d09ed9..0b577767387 100644
--- a/plugins/in_tail/tail_db.c
+++ b/plugins/in_tail/tail_db.c
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ struct flb_sqldb *flb_tail_db_open(const char *path,
         }
     }
 
-
     ret = flb_sqldb_query(db, SQL_PRAGMA_JOURNAL_MODE, NULL, NULL);
     if (ret != FLB_OK) {
         flb_plg_error(ctx->ins, "db: could not set pragma 'journal_mode'");
@@ -143,11 +142,16 @@ static int db_file_insert(struct flb_tail_file *file, struct flb_tail_config *ct
     /* Run the insert */
     ret = sqlite3_step(ctx->stmt_insert_file);
     if (ret != SQLITE_DONE) {
+        sqlite3_clear_bindings(ctx->stmt_insert_file);
+        sqlite3_reset(ctx->stmt_insert_file);
         flb_plg_error(ctx->ins, "cannot execute insert file %s inode=%lu",
                       file->name, file->inode);
         return -1;
     }
 
+    sqlite3_clear_bindings(ctx->stmt_insert_file);
+    sqlite3_reset(ctx->stmt_insert_file);
+
     /* Get the database ID for this file */
     return flb_sqldb_last_id(ctx->db);
 }