diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6905ccc37e8..1d29c690d20 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 - Fix run levels ([#343](https://github.com/fishtown-analytics/dbt/pull/343), [#340](https://github.com/fishtown-analytics/dbt/issues/340), [#338](https://github.com/fishtown-analytics/dbt/issues/338))
 - Fix concurrency, open a unique transaction per model ([#345](https://github.com/fishtown-analytics/dbt/pull/345), [#336](https://github.com/fishtown-analytics/dbt/issues/336))
 - Handle concurrent `DROP ... CASCADE`s in Redshift ([#349](https://github.com/fishtown-analytics/dbt/pull/349))
+- Always release connections (use `try .. finally`) ([#354](https://github.com/fishtown-analytics/dbt/pull/354))
 
 ### Changes
 
diff --git a/dbt/runner.py b/dbt/runner.py
index 68b69c3a1e9..7d32438bf82 100644
--- a/dbt/runner.py
+++ b/dbt/runner.py
@@ -478,23 +478,26 @@ def execute_node(self, node, existing):
         adapter = get_adapter(profile)
         connection = adapter.begin(profile, node.get('name'))
 
-        logger.debug("executing node %s", node.get('unique_id'))
+        try:
+            logger.debug("executing node %s", node.get('unique_id'))
+
+            if node.get('skip') is True:
+                return "SKIP"
 
-        if node.get('skip') is True:
-            return "SKIP"
+            node = self.inject_runtime_config(node)
 
-        node = self.inject_runtime_config(node)
+            if is_type(node, NodeType.Model):
+                result = execute_model(profile, node, existing)
+            elif is_type(node, NodeType.Test):
+                result = execute_test(profile, node)
+            elif is_type(node, NodeType.Archive):
+                result = execute_archive(
+                    profile, node, self.node_context(node))
 
-        if is_type(node, NodeType.Model):
-            result = execute_model(profile, node, existing)
-        elif is_type(node, NodeType.Test):
-            result = execute_test(profile, node)
-        elif is_type(node, NodeType.Archive):
-            result = execute_archive(profile, node, self.node_context(node))
+            adapter.commit(connection)
 
-        adapter.commit(connection)
-        adapter.close(connection)
-        adapter.release_connection(profile, node.get('name'))
+        finally:
+            adapter.release_connection(profile, node.get('name'))
 
         return result