diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index a2044fa0b5..335d1919dc 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
 
+2.3-697 | 2015-04-15 09:51:15 -0700
+
+  * Removing error check verifyingn that an ASCII writer has been
+    properly finished. Instead of aborting, we now just clean up in
+    that case and proceed. Addresses BIT-1331. (Robin Sommer)
+
 2.3-696 | 2015-04-14 15:56:36 -0700
 
   * Update sqlite to 3.8.9
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 5b0c074744..126682d76e 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.3-696
+2.3-697
diff --git a/src/logging/writers/ascii/Ascii.cc b/src/logging/writers/ascii/Ascii.cc
index a27553916f..d6f5daa7e7 100644
--- a/src/logging/writers/ascii/Ascii.cc
+++ b/src/logging/writers/ascii/Ascii.cc
@@ -181,10 +181,9 @@ bool Ascii::InitFormatter()
 Ascii::~Ascii()
 	{
 	if ( ! ascii_done )
-		{
-		fprintf(stderr, "internal error: finish missing\n");
-		abort();
-		}
+		// In case of errors aborting the logging altogether,
+		// DoFinish() may not have been called.
+		CloseFile(network_time);
 
 	delete formatter;
 	}