diff --git a/src/bin/pg_rewind/pg_rewind.c b/src/bin/pg_rewind/pg_rewind.c
index 96a42f8e331..c5589b9bb3a 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_rewind/pg_rewind.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_rewind/pg_rewind.c
@@ -584,6 +584,7 @@ createBackupLabel(XLogRecPtr startpoint, TimeLineID starttli, XLogRecPtr checkpo
 	/* TODO: move old file out of the way, if any. */
 	open_target_file("backup_label", true);		/* BACKUP_LABEL_FILE */
 	write_target_range(buf, 0, len);
+	close_target_file();
 }
 
 /*