diff --git a/lib/fs.js b/lib/fs.js
index 13ee60a519..b48de3a5d2 100644
--- a/lib/fs.js
+++ b/lib/fs.js
@@ -659,6 +659,7 @@ function FSWatcher() {
 
   this._handle.onchange = function(status, event, filename) {
     if (status) {
+      self._handle.close();
       self.emit('error', errnoException(errno, 'watch'));
     } else {
       self.emit('change', event, filename);