diff --git a/src/miner.cpp b/src/miner.cpp
index b1a4b917f..11aae8122 100644
--- a/src/miner.cpp
+++ b/src/miner.cpp
@@ -1122,6 +1122,7 @@ void static RandomXMiner()
     int randomxInterval = GetArg("-ac_randomx_interval",1024);
     // This lag is 80 mins for 75s blocktime and 64 mins for 60s (default) blocktime for HSCs
     int randomxBlockLag = GetArg("-ac_randomx_lag", 64);
+    randomx_vm *myVM = nullptr;
 
     try {
         // fprintf(stderr,"RandomXMiner: mining %s with randomx\n",SMART_CHAIN_SYMBOL);
@@ -1198,7 +1199,7 @@ void static RandomXMiner()
             // randomx_init_dataset(randomxDataset, randomxCache, 0, datasetItemCount);
             rxdebug("%s: dataset initialized\n");
 
-            randomx_vm *myVM = randomx_create_vm(flags, nullptr, randomxDataset);
+            myVM = randomx_create_vm(flags, nullptr, randomxDataset);
             if(myVM == NULL) {
                 LogPrintf("RandomXMiner: Cannot create RandomX VM, aborting!\n");
                 return;
@@ -1425,10 +1426,12 @@ void static RandomXMiner()
        miningTimer.stop();
        c.disconnect();
 
+       randomx_destroy_vm(myVM);
+       LogPrintf("%s: destroyed vm via thread interrupt\n", __func__);
        randomx_release_dataset(randomxDataset);
-       rxdebug("%s: released dataset\n");
+       rxdebug("%s: released dataset via thread interrupt\n");
        randomx_release_cache(randomxCache);
-       rxdebug("%s: released cache\n");
+       rxdebug("%s: released cache via thread interrupt\n");
 
        LogPrintf("HushRandomXMiner terminated\n");
        throw;
@@ -1437,18 +1440,20 @@ void static RandomXMiner()
        c.disconnect();
        fprintf(stderr,"RandomXMiner: runtime error: %s\n", e.what());
 
+       randomx_destroy_vm(myVM);
+       LogPrintf("%s: destroyed vm because of error\n", __func__);
        randomx_release_dataset(randomxDataset);
-       rxdebug("%s: released dataset\n");
+       rxdebug("%s: released dataset because of error\n");
        randomx_release_cache(randomxCache);
-       rxdebug("%s: released cache\n");
+       rxdebug("%s: released cache because of error\n");
 
        return;
    }
 
    randomx_release_dataset(randomxDataset);
-   rxdebug("%s: released dataset\n");
+   rxdebug("%s: released dataset in normal exit\n");
    randomx_release_cache(randomxCache);
-   rxdebug("%s: released cache\n");
+   rxdebug("%s: released cache in normal exit\n");
    miningTimer.stop();
    c.disconnect();
 }