diff --git a/scouter/activities/kafka.py b/scouter/activities/kafka.py
index a05b292..8fe1454 100644
--- a/scouter/activities/kafka.py
+++ b/scouter/activities/kafka.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class Kafka(BaseActivity):
         topic = input_data["topic"]
 
         # Subscribe to the specified topic
-        self.kafka_connector = KafkaConsumer(
+        kafka_connector = KafkaConsumer(
             topic,
             bootstrap_servers=self.bootstrap_servers,
             auto_offset_reset="earliest",
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class Kafka(BaseActivity):
         message_values = []
 
         # Poll for messages
-        records = self.kafka_connector.poll(timeout_ms=self.polling_time)
+        records = kafka_connector.poll(timeout_ms=self.polling_time)
 
         self.debug(
             f"Polled {len(records)} records from topic: {topic}",
@@ -95,4 +95,6 @@ class Kafka(BaseActivity):
             metadata=metadata
         )
 
+        kafka_connector.close()
+
         return DataFrame(message_values).to_dict()