diff --git a/os/utils.c b/os/utils.c
index 79e2f13f6..82ad41933 100644
--- a/os/utils.c
+++ b/os/utils.c
@@ -1516,7 +1516,9 @@ Fopen(const char *file, const char *type)
     iop = fopen(file, type);
 
     if (seteuid(euid) == -1) {
-        fclose(iop);
+        if (iop) {
+            fclose(iop);
+        }
         return NULL;
     }
     return iop;