diff --git a/src/pylorax/imgutils.py b/src/pylorax/imgutils.py
index 2b760d31..c78d179d 100644
--- a/src/pylorax/imgutils.py
+++ b/src/pylorax/imgutils.py
@@ -72,6 +72,16 @@ def loop_detach(loopdev):
     '''Detach the given loop device. Return False on failure.'''
     return (call(["losetup", "--detach", loopdev]) == 0)
 
+def get_loop_name(path):
+    '''Return the loop device associated with the path.
+    Raises RuntimeError if more than one loop is associated'''
+    buf = check_output(["losetup", "-j", path], stderr=PIPE)
+    if len(buf.splitlines()) > 1:
+        # there should never be more than one loop device listed
+        raise RuntimeError("multiple loops associated with %s" % path)
+    name = os.path.basename(buf.split(":")[0])
+    return name
+
 def dm_attach(dev, size, name=None):
     '''Attach a devicemapper device to the given device, with the given size.
     If name is None, a random name will be chosen. Returns the device name.
diff --git a/src/sbin/livemedia-creator b/src/sbin/livemedia-creator
index 1c1a5ec5..ef4b670e 100755
--- a/src/sbin/livemedia-creator
+++ b/src/sbin/livemedia-creator
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ from pykickstart.version import makeVersion
 from pylorax.base import DataHolder
 from pylorax.treebuilder import TreeBuilder, RuntimeBuilder, udev_escape
 from pylorax.sysutils import joinpaths, remove, linktree
-from pylorax.imgutils import PartitionMount, mksparse, mkext4img
+from pylorax.imgutils import PartitionMount, mksparse, mkext4img, loop_detach
+from pylorax.imgutils import get_loop_name, dm_detach
 from pylorax.executils import execWithRedirect, execWithCapture
 
 # no-virt mode doesn't need libvirt, so make it optional
@@ -385,6 +386,17 @@ class VirtualInstall( object ):
         subprocess.call(["virsh","destroy",self.virt_name])
         subprocess.call(["virsh","undefine",self.virt_name])
 
+def is_image_mounted(disk_img):
+    """
+    Return True if the disk_img is mounted
+    """
+    with open("/proc/mounts") as mounts:
+        for mount in mounts:
+            fields = mount.split()
+            if len(fields) > 2 and fields[1] == disk_img:
+                return True
+    return False
+
 
 def anaconda_install( disk_img, disk_size, kickstart, repo, args ):
     """
@@ -704,6 +716,14 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
                 if os.path.exists( "/tmp/"+l ):
                     shutil.copy2( "/tmp/"+l, log_anaconda )
                     os.unlink( "/tmp/"+l )
+
+            # If anaconda failed the disk image may still be in use by dm
+            dm_name = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(disk_img))[0]
+            dm_path = "/dev/mapper/"+dm_name
+            if os.path.exists(dm_path):
+                dm_detach(dm_path)
+                loop_detach(get_loop_name(disk_img))
+
         else:
             iso_mount = IsoMountpoint( opts.iso )
             log_monitor = LogMonitor( install_log )