diff --git a/mat_noprofile.go b/mat_noprofile.go
index 5cc82a38..0d6d56a5 100644
--- a/mat_noprofile.go
+++ b/mat_noprofile.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ package gocv
 #include "core.h"
 */
 import "C"
+import "errors"
 
 // addMatToProfile does nothing if matprofile tag is not set.
 func addMatToProfile(p C.Mat) {
@@ -20,6 +21,9 @@ func newMat(p C.Mat) Mat {
 
 // Close the Mat object.
 func (m *Mat) Close() error {
+	if m.p == nil {
+		return errors.New("duplicate Mat close")
+	}
 	C.Mat_Close(m.p)
 	m.p = nil
 	m.d = nil
diff --git a/mat_profile.go b/mat_profile.go
index eaeaca8b..1caadd7c 100644
--- a/mat_profile.go
+++ b/mat_profile.go
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ func newMat(p C.Mat) Mat {
 
 // Close the Mat object.
 func (m *Mat) Close() error {
+	if m.p == nil {
+		return errors.New("duplicate Mat close")
+	}
 	// NOTE: The pointer must be removed from the profile before it is deleted to
 	// avoid a data race.
 	MatProfile.Remove(m.p)