diff --git a/pack-mtimes.c b/pack-mtimes.c
index 0e0aafdcb0..0f9785fc5e 100644
--- a/pack-mtimes.c
+++ b/pack-mtimes.c
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ static int load_pack_mtimes_file(char *mtimes_file,
 		*data_p = data;
 	}
 
-	close(fd);
+	if (fd >= 0)
+		close(fd);
 	return ret;
 }