diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/modfetch/fetch.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/modfetch/fetch.go
index 110312bbe0..375c3f1478 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/modfetch/fetch.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/modfetch/fetch.go
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ func downloadZip(mod module.Version, target string) error {
 	// Double-check zip file looks OK.
 	z, err := zip.OpenReader(tmpfile)
 	if err != nil {
-		z.Close()
 		return err
 	}
 	prefix := mod.Path + "@" + mod.Version