diff --git a/internal/server/rpc.go b/internal/server/rpc.go
index 78ae4664b7..748d13bbca 100644
--- a/internal/server/rpc.go
+++ b/internal/server/rpc.go
@@ -297,6 +297,7 @@ func (t *Server) Export(file string, reply *string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	defer f.Close()
 	exported, counts, err := rulesetProcessor.Export()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err