diff --git a/src/lxc/monitor.c b/src/lxc/monitor.c
index e108eb764..0521e9ab3 100644
--- a/src/lxc/monitor.c
+++ b/src/lxc/monitor.c
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ static void lxc_monitor_fifo_send(struct lxc_msg *msg, const char *lxcpath)
 
 	ret = write(fd, msg, sizeof(*msg));
 	if (ret != sizeof(*msg)) {
+		close(fd);
 		SYSERROR("failed to write monitor fifo %s", fifo_path);
 		return;
 	}