diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/read_file_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/read_file_test.ts
index 5594eb4ae3..5f8ee2c118 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/read_file_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/read_file_test.ts
@@ -77,3 +77,21 @@ unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readFileSyncLoop(): void {
     Deno.readFileSync("cli/tests/fixture.json");
   }
 });
+
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true } },
+  async function readFileDoesNotLeakResources(): Promise<void> {
+    const resourcesBefore = Deno.resources();
+    await assertThrowsAsync(async () => await Deno.readFile("cli"));
+    assertEquals(resourcesBefore, Deno.resources());
+  },
+);
+
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true } },
+  function readFileSyncDoesNotLeakResources(): void {
+    const resourcesBefore = Deno.resources();
+    assertThrows(() => Deno.readFileSync("cli"));
+    assertEquals(resourcesBefore, Deno.resources());
+  },
+);
diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/read_text_file_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/read_text_file_test.ts
index dc6a901bb6..2223d9c185 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/read_text_file_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/read_text_file_test.ts
@@ -69,3 +69,21 @@ unitTest({ perms: { read: true } }, function readTextFileSyncLoop(): void {
     Deno.readTextFileSync("cli/tests/fixture.json");
   }
 });
+
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true } },
+  async function readTextFileDoesNotLeakResources(): Promise<void> {
+    const resourcesBefore = Deno.resources();
+    await assertThrowsAsync(async () => await Deno.readTextFile("cli"));
+    assertEquals(resourcesBefore, Deno.resources());
+  },
+);
+
+unitTest(
+  { perms: { read: true } },
+  function readTextFileSyncDoesNotLeakResources(): void {
+    const resourcesBefore = Deno.resources();
+    assertThrows(() => Deno.readTextFileSync("cli"));
+    assertEquals(resourcesBefore, Deno.resources());
+  },
+);
diff --git a/runtime/js/40_read_file.js b/runtime/js/40_read_file.js
index 0ca8f56e90..1efd5338d8 100644
--- a/runtime/js/40_read_file.js
+++ b/runtime/js/40_read_file.js
@@ -7,32 +7,44 @@
 
   function readFileSync(path) {
     const file = openSync(path);
-    const contents = readAllSync(file);
-    file.close();
-    return contents;
+    try {
+      const contents = readAllSync(file);
+      return contents;
+    } finally {
+      file.close();
+    }
   }
 
   async function readFile(path) {
     const file = await open(path);
-    const contents = await readAll(file);
-    file.close();
-    return contents;
+    try {
+      const contents = await readAll(file);
+      return contents;
+    } finally {
+      file.close();
+    }
   }
 
   function readTextFileSync(path) {
     const file = openSync(path);
-    const contents = readAllSync(file);
-    file.close();
-    const decoder = new TextDecoder();
-    return decoder.decode(contents);
+    try {
+      const contents = readAllSync(file);
+      const decoder = new TextDecoder();
+      return decoder.decode(contents);
+    } finally {
+      file.close();
+    }
   }
 
   async function readTextFile(path) {
     const file = await open(path);
-    const contents = await readAll(file);
-    file.close();
-    const decoder = new TextDecoder();
-    return decoder.decode(contents);
+    try {
+      const contents = await readAll(file);
+      const decoder = new TextDecoder();
+      return decoder.decode(contents);
+    } finally {
+      file.close();
+    }
   }
 
   window.__bootstrap.readFile = {