diff --git a/src/python/recoll/recoll/conftree.py b/src/python/recoll/recoll/conftree.py
index 53d445c7..c67e37d4 100644
--- a/src/python/recoll/recoll/conftree.py
+++ b/src/python/recoll/recoll/conftree.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ class ConfSimple(object):
             return
 
         self._parseinput(f)
+        f.close()
         
     def _parseinput(self, f):
         appending = False