diff --git a/shared/datastore/src/get.py b/shared/datastore/src/get.py
index 6c4cc69..09ce2c6 100644
--- a/shared/datastore/src/get.py
+++ b/shared/datastore/src/get.py
@@ -38,5 +38,7 @@ def get(
         print_exc()
         raise exc
     finally:
-        response.close()
-        response.release_conn()
+        # close connection if established
+        if 'response' in locals():
+            response.close()
+            response.release_conn()