diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 5517bd08..34fe5fe6 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ lm-sensors CHANGES file
 
 SVN HEAD
   sensord: Reload config on SIGHUP rather than automatically
+  sensors: Fix file handle leak on library initialization error
   sensors-detect: Fix SMSC LPC47B357/M967 detection
                   Select the right driver for FSC chips
   sensors-detect-stat.pl: Handle alternative chip lists
diff --git a/prog/sensors/main.c b/prog/sensors/main.c
index 74ebb94f..6acfa668 100644
--- a/prog/sensors/main.c
+++ b/prog/sensors/main.c
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ static int read_config_file(const char *config_file_name)
 	err = sensors_init(config_file);
 	if (err) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "sensors_init: %s\n", sensors_strerror(err));
+		fclose(config_file);
 		return 1;
 	}