diff --git a/src/rpc/virnetclient.c b/src/rpc/virnetclient.c
index 781e74cbe0..d8ed15b7e2 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnetclient.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virnetclient.c
@@ -1184,6 +1184,7 @@ virNetClientIOWriteMessage(virNetClientPtr client,
             if (rv == 0) /* Blocking */
                 return 0;
             thecall->msg->donefds++;
+            VIR_FORCE_CLOSE(thecall->msg->fds[i]);
         }
         thecall->msg->donefds = 0;
         thecall->msg->bufferOffset = thecall->msg->bufferLength = 0;