diff --git a/src/csync_exclude.c b/src/csync_exclude.c
index 1ab45d03e7..9c6645b2c1 100644
--- a/src/csync_exclude.c
+++ b/src/csync_exclude.c
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ int csync_exclude_load(CSYNC *ctx, const char *fname) {
     rc = -1;
     goto out;
   }
-  close(fd);
 
   /* FIXME: Don't add duplicates */
   entry = buf;