diff --git a/src/container/srv_target.c b/src/container/srv_target.c
index 2d5ef014627..3961f41dcaf 100644
--- a/src/container/srv_target.c
+++ b/src/container/srv_target.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /**
- * (C) Copyright 2016-2023 Intel Corporation.
+ * (C) Copyright 2016-2024 Intel Corporation.
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause-Patent
  */
@@ -1724,9 +1724,14 @@ ds_cont_tgt_close(uuid_t pool_uuid, uuid_t hdl_uuid)
 	struct coll_close_arg arg;
 
 	uuid_copy(arg.uuid, hdl_uuid);
-	return ds_pool_thread_collective(pool_uuid,
-					 PO_COMP_ST_NEW | PO_COMP_ST_DOWN | PO_COMP_ST_DOWNOUT,
-					 cont_close_one_hdl, &arg, 0);
+
+	/*
+	 * The container might be opened when the target is up, but changed to down when closing.
+	 * We need to attempt to close down/downout targets regardless; it won't take any action
+	 * if it was not opened before. Failure to properly close it will result in container
+	 * destruction failing with EBUSY. (See DAOS-15514)
+	 */
+	return ds_pool_thread_collective(pool_uuid, 0, cont_close_one_hdl, &arg, 0);
 }
 
 struct xstream_cont_query {