diff --git a/fdrd.c b/fdrd.c
index a899110..a836044 100644
--- a/fdrd.c
+++ b/fdrd.c
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ saveto(struct instance *insp, struct item *itp)
 int
 read_config_file(const char *fpath, const struct stat *sb, int typeflag)
 {
-	FILE *f;
+	FILE *f; 
 	char buf[BUFSIZE], save_buf[BUFSIZE], *bp;
 	int l;
 	struct item *itp;
@@ -590,6 +590,7 @@ read_config_file(const char *fpath, const struct stat *sb, int typeflag)
 	insp = malloc(sizeof(struct instance));
 	if (insp == NULL) {
 		perror("malloc");
+		fclose(f)
 		return 1;
 	}
 	insque(insp, &anchor);
@@ -637,6 +638,7 @@ read_config_file(const char *fpath, const struct stat *sb, int typeflag)
 		itp = malloc(sizeof(struct item));
 		if (itp == NULL) {
 			perror("malloc");
+			fclose(f);
 			exit(EC_MALLOC);
 		}
 
@@ -714,6 +716,7 @@ read_config_file(const char *fpath, const struct stat *sb, int typeflag)
 			insp->ilast = itp;
 		}
 	}
+	fclose(f);
 	return 0;
 }