diff --git a/src/gtkgui_helpers.py b/src/gtkgui_helpers.py
index fb3766170..994c70c41 100644
--- a/src/gtkgui_helpers.py
+++ b/src/gtkgui_helpers.py
@@ -396,6 +396,7 @@ def get_pixbuf_from_data(file_data, want_type = False):
 		pixbufloader.close()
 		pixbuf = pixbufloader.get_pixbuf()
 	except gobject.GError: # 'unknown image format'
+		pixbufloader.close()
 		pixbuf = None
 		if want_type:
 			return None, None