diff --git a/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/launching/LaunchUtils.java b/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/launching/LaunchUtils.java
index 88c10f4cfb0..29d2a1b911a 100644
--- a/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/launching/LaunchUtils.java
+++ b/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/launching/LaunchUtils.java
@@ -314,6 +314,10 @@ public class LaunchUtils {
         } catch (IOException e) {
         	throw new DebugException(new Status(IStatus.ERROR, GdbPlugin.PLUGIN_ID, DebugException.REQUEST_FAILED, 
         			"Error reading GDB STDOUT after sending: " + cmd, e.getCause()));//$NON-NLS-1$
+        } finally {
+        	// Cleanup to avoid leaking pipes
+        	// Bug 345164
+        	process.destroy();
         }
 
         return getGDBVersionFromText(cmdOutput.toString());
diff --git a/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/service/GDBBackend.java b/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/service/GDBBackend.java
index 9fb36202af2..4c8659aaa52 100644
--- a/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/service/GDBBackend.java
+++ b/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/service/GDBBackend.java
@@ -712,6 +712,7 @@ public class GDBBackend extends AbstractDsfService implements IGDBBackend {
                 	getExecutor().submit(
                             new DsfRunnable() {
                                 public void run() { 
+                                	destroy();
                                 	fBackendState = State.TERMINATED; 
                                 	getSession().dispatchEvent(
                                 			new BackendStateChangedEvent(getSession().getId(), getId(), State.TERMINATED),