diff --git a/lib/libc/stdio/fopen.c b/lib/libc/stdio/fopen.c
index 14ec9bc5b72..6fe536a0c90 100644
--- a/lib/libc/stdio/fopen.c
+++ b/lib/libc/stdio/fopen.c
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ fopen(file, mode)
 	 * open.
 	 */
 	if (f > SHRT_MAX) {
+		fp->_flags = 0;			/* release */
 		_close(f);
 		errno = EMFILE;
 		return (NULL);