diff --git a/cmd/containerd-shim/main_unix.go b/cmd/containerd-shim/main_unix.go
index 32dcbd737..cf1875eb9 100644
--- a/cmd/containerd-shim/main_unix.go
+++ b/cmd/containerd-shim/main_unix.go
@@ -196,7 +196,9 @@ func serve(ctx context.Context, server *ttrpc.Server, path string) error {
 		err error
 	)
 	if path == "" {
-		l, err = net.FileListener(os.NewFile(3, "socket"))
+		f := os.NewFile(3, "socket")
+		l, err = net.FileListener(f)
+		f.Close()
 		path = "[inherited from parent]"
 	} else {
 		if len(path) > 106 {