diff --git a/mount.c b/mount.c
index d30bbfae1..66e263c1f 100644
--- a/mount.c
+++ b/mount.c
@@ -787,8 +787,10 @@ int mntns_collect_root(pid_t pid)
 
 	pfd = open_pid_proc(pid);
 	ret = readlinkat(pfd, "root", path, sizeof(path) - 1);
-	if (ret < 0)
+	if (ret < 0){
+		close_pid_proc();
 		return ret;
+	}
 
 	path[ret] = '\0';