diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_cli.c b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_cli.c
index f133bebfdd..085523fe03 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_cli.c
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_cli.c
@@ -230,6 +230,7 @@ cmd_softnic_pipeline_codegen(struct pmd_internals *softnic __rte_unused,
 	code_file = fopen(tokens[3], "w");
 	if (!code_file) {
 		snprintf(out, out_size, "Cannot open file %s.\n", tokens[3]);
+		fclose(spec_file);
 		return;
 	}