diff --git a/dlls/kernel/process.c b/dlls/kernel/process.c
index da84b88115d..f6705866223 100644
--- a/dlls/kernel/process.c
+++ b/dlls/kernel/process.c
@@ -1336,6 +1336,7 @@ static BOOL create_process( HANDLE hFile, LPCWSTR filename, LPWSTR cmd_line, LPW
         CloseHandle( process_info );
         return FALSE;
     }
+    close( execfd[0] );
 
     /* wait for the new process info to be ready */