diff --git a/lib/fs.js b/lib/fs.js
index 990eb6d3313..1e3dc6415a6 100644
--- a/lib/fs.js
+++ b/lib/fs.js
@@ -304,7 +304,13 @@ fs.readFileSync = function(path, options) {
   if (size === 0) {
     buffers = [];
   } else {
-    buffer = new Buffer(size);
+    var threw = true;
+    try {
+      buffer = new Buffer(size);
+      threw = false;
+    } finally {
+      if (threw) fs.closeSync(fd);
+    }
   }
 
   var done = false;