diff --git a/src/elog.c b/src/elog.c
index 51b721e5..aa028cb6 100755
--- a/src/elog.c
+++ b/src/elog.c
@@ -1154,6 +1154,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
       if (size > (INT) (sizeof(text) - 1)) {
          printf("Message file \"%s\" is too long (%zd bytes max).\n", textfile, sizeof(text));
+         close(fh);
          return 1;
       }
 
@@ -1161,6 +1162,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
       if (i < size) {
          printf("Cannot fully read message from file %s.\n", textfile);
+         close(fh);
          return 1;
       }