diff --git a/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier.go b/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier.go
index 48b61d636dc..708f2ac69d1 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier.go
@@ -633,6 +633,7 @@ func (handle *LinuxKernelHandler) GetModules() ([]string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Failed to read file /proc/modules with error %v", err)
 	}
+	defer modulesFile.Close()
 
 	mods, err := getFirstColumn(modulesFile)
 	if err != nil {