diff --git a/src/process/ntapi_tt_spawn_native_process.c b/src/process/ntapi_tt_spawn_native_process.c
index ebc2c06..db308d6 100644
--- a/src/process/ntapi_tt_spawn_native_process.c
+++ b/src/process/ntapi_tt_spawn_native_process.c
@@ -240,6 +240,10 @@ int32_t __stdcall __ntapi_tt_spawn_native_process(nt_spawn_process_params * spar
 		return __tt_spawn_return(
 			&rtblock,0,0,status);
 
+	/* tidy up */
+	if (!sparams->himage)
+		__ntapi->zw_close(hfile);
+
 	/* tty session (optional) */
 	if (sparams->hsession) {
 		if ((status = __ntapi->tty_client_process_register(