diff --git a/playlist.c b/playlist.c
index 9dbfe89bdb..d3b400251e 100644
--- a/playlist.c
+++ b/playlist.c
@@ -195,6 +195,10 @@ static bool content_playlist_read_file(
    if (!file || !playlist)
    {
       RARCH_ERR("Couldn't read content playlist file: %s.\n", path);
+
+      if (file)
+         fclose(file);
+
       return true;
    }