diff --git a/usr.sbin/lpr/common_source/ctlinfo.c b/usr.sbin/lpr/common_source/ctlinfo.c
index 9d2f310b1314..d1f828e5ed99 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/lpr/common_source/ctlinfo.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/lpr/common_source/ctlinfo.c
@@ -292,8 +292,10 @@ ctl_readcf(const char *ptrname, const char *cfname)
 	msize = sroom2 + CTI_LINEMAX;
 	msize = roundup(msize, 8);
 	cstart = malloc(msize);
-	if (cstart == NULL)
+	if (cstart == NULL) {
+		fclose(cfile);
 		return NULL;
+	}
 	memset(cstart, 0, msize);
 	cpriv = (struct cjprivate *)cstart;
 	cpriv->pub.cji_priv = cpriv;