diff --git a/openvpn_exporter.go b/openvpn_exporter.go
index 8309f44..8babecb 100644
--- a/openvpn_exporter.go
+++ b/openvpn_exporter.go
@@ -278,6 +278,7 @@ func CollectClientStatusFromReader(statusPath string, file io.Reader, ch chan<-
 
 func CollectStatusFromFile(statusPath string, ch chan<- prometheus.Metric) error {
 	conn, err := os.Open(statusPath)
+	defer conn.Close()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}