diff --git a/src/settings/plugins/ifcfg-rh/shvar.c b/src/settings/plugins/ifcfg-rh/shvar.c
index df03bf654c..1b4529c4e1 100644
--- a/src/settings/plugins/ifcfg-rh/shvar.c
+++ b/src/settings/plugins/ifcfg-rh/shvar.c
@@ -1373,7 +1373,8 @@ svCloseFile (shvarFile *s)
 
 	g_return_if_fail (s != NULL);
 
-	nm_close (s->fd);
+	if (s->fd >= 0)
+		nm_close (s->fd);
 	g_free (s->fileName);
 	c_list_for_each_safe (current, safe, &s->lst_head)
 		line_free (c_list_entry (current, shvarLine, lst));