diff --git a/devicemodel/core/sw_load_elf.c b/devicemodel/core/sw_load_elf.c
index a3b8778ad..aa14bb2d0 100644
--- a/devicemodel/core/sw_load_elf.c
+++ b/devicemodel/core/sw_load_elf.c
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ acrn_load_elf(struct vmctx *ctx, char *elf_file_name, unsigned long *entry,
 	}
 
 	*entry = elf_ehdr->e_entry;
+	fclose(fp);
 	free(elf_buf);
 
 	return ret;