diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index b9935470..aac188cd 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -142,10 +142,11 @@ func (s *HTTPProbe) UnmarshalYAML(unmarshal func(interface{}) error) error {
 		return errors.New("at most one of body & body_file may be configured")
 	}
 	if s.BodyFile != "" {
-		_, err := os.Open(s.BodyFile)
+		file, err := os.Open(s.BodyFile)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		defer file.Close()
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/prober/http.go b/prober/http.go
index a88358c3..7f647aef 100644
--- a/prober/http.go
+++ b/prober/http.go
@@ -269,6 +269,7 @@ func ProbeHTTP(ctx context.Context, target string, module config.Module, registr
 			level.Error(logger).Log("msg", "Error opening body file", "err", err)
 			return
 		}
+		defer file.Close()
 		body = file
 	}