diff --git a/cmd/evm/runner.go b/cmd/evm/runner.go
index 4063767cb8..ab45cbac37 100644
--- a/cmd/evm/runner.go
+++ b/cmd/evm/runner.go
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ func runCmd(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 			fmt.Println("could not create CPU profile: ", err)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
+		defer f.Close()
 		if err := pprof.StartCPUProfile(f); err != nil {
 			fmt.Println("could not start CPU profile: ", err)
 			os.Exit(1)