diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/lib.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/lib.go
index 91665b2ebb..9e13db7b71 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/lib.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/lib.go
@@ -1103,7 +1103,6 @@ func hostlinksetup(ctxt *Link) {
 		*flagTmpdir = dir
 		ownTmpDir = true
 		AtExit(func() {
-			ctxt.Out.Close()
 			os.RemoveAll(*flagTmpdir)
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/outbuf.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/outbuf.go
index 9d5e8854fe..1d21dce9c5 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/outbuf.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/outbuf.go
@@ -131,6 +131,20 @@ func (out *OutBuf) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// ErrorClose closes the output file (if any).
+// It is supposed to be called only at exit on error, so it doesn't do
+// any clean up or buffer flushing, just closes the file.
+func (out *OutBuf) ErrorClose() {
+	if out.isView {
+		panic(viewCloseError)
+	}
+	if out.f == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	out.f.Close() // best effort, ignore error
+	out.f = nil
+}
+
 // isMmapped returns true if the OutBuf is mmaped.
 func (out *OutBuf) isMmapped() bool {
 	return len(out.buf) != 0
diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/sym.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/sym.go
index 72639962e2..d51a59ef46 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/sym.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/ld/sym.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func linknew(arch *sys.Arch) *Link {
 
 	AtExit(func() {
 		if nerrors > 0 {
-			ctxt.Out.Close()
+			ctxt.Out.ErrorClose()
 			mayberemoveoutfile()
 		}
 	})