diff --git a/mimedb.cpp b/mimedb.cpp
index c41c2853a..0a4106b24 100644
--- a/mimedb.cpp
+++ b/mimedb.cpp
@@ -620,6 +620,7 @@ static char *get_description(const char *mimetype)
         perror("read");
         error=1;
         free((void *)contents);
+        close(fd);
         return 0;
     }