diff --git a/scripts/mod/modpost.c b/scripts/mod/modpost.c
index 8d46ea7d6715d..57d71a5f31b6c 100644
--- a/scripts/mod/modpost.c
+++ b/scripts/mod/modpost.c
@@ -1990,6 +1990,7 @@ static void read_markers(const char *fname)
 		if (!mod->skip)
 			add_marker(mod, marker, fmt);
 	}
+	release_file(file, size);
 	return;
 fail:
 	fatal("parse error in markers list file\n");