diff --git a/publisher/publisher.go b/publisher/publisher.go
index be4472791..de9b03d0d 100644
--- a/publisher/publisher.go
+++ b/publisher/publisher.go
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ func (p DestinationPublisher) Publish(d Descriptor) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	defer f.Close()
 
 	_, err = io.Copy(f, src)
 	if err == nil && d.StatCounter != nil {