diff --git a/cmd/discosrv/stats.go b/cmd/discosrv/stats.go
index 8a2ed9821..3e418897b 100644
--- a/cmd/discosrv/stats.go
+++ b/cmd/discosrv/stats.go
@@ -95,6 +95,12 @@ func (s *statssrv) writeToFile(stats stats, secs float64) {
 		log.Println("stats file:", err)
 		return
 	}
+	defer func() {
+		err = fd.Close()
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Println("stats file:", err)
+		}
+	}()
 
 	bs, err := ioutil.ReadAll(fd)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -127,10 +133,4 @@ func (s *statssrv) writeToFile(stats stats, secs float64) {
 		log.Println("stats file:", err)
 		return
 	}
-
-	err = fd.Close()
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Println("stats file:", err)
-		return
-	}
 }