diff --git a/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp b/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
index c82d4f93a8d..40b4a38e417 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
@@ -142,13 +142,14 @@ static void RegisterLoad(const string& strInput)
         valStr.insert(valStr.size(), buf, bread);
     }
 
-    if (ferror(f)) {
+    int error = ferror(f);
+    fclose(f);
+
+    if (error) {
         string strErr = "Error reading file " + filename;
         throw runtime_error(strErr);
     }
 
-    fclose(f);
-
     // evaluate as JSON buffer register
     RegisterSetJson(key, valStr);
 }