diff --git a/shell/ShellUtils.cpp b/shell/ShellUtils.cpp
index 7156b4678d8..740a539c296 100644
--- a/shell/ShellUtils.cpp
+++ b/shell/ShellUtils.cpp
@@ -438,6 +438,7 @@ public:
             if ( ret == 0 ) {
                 if ( *last )
                     writeMongoProgramOutputLine( port_, last );
+                close( pipe_ );
                 break;
             }
             if ( last != buf ) {