diff --git a/openbsc/src/gprs/gtphub_main.c b/openbsc/src/gprs/gtphub_main.c
index f56c446..bfb0a3d 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/gprs/gtphub_main.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/gprs/gtphub_main.c
@@ -166,8 +166,10 @@
 		goto failed_to_write;
 	if (fprintf(f, "%" PRIu8 "\n", counter) < 2)
 		goto failed_to_write;
-	if (fclose(f))
+	if (fclose(f)) {
+		f = NULL;
 		goto failed_to_write;
+	}
 
 	umask(umask_was);