diff --git a/lib/libalpm/util.c b/lib/libalpm/util.c
index 43d0d7be..22408d70 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/util.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/util.c
@@ -542,7 +542,9 @@ int _alpm_run_chroot(alpm_handle_t *handle, const char *cmd, char *const argv[])
 		while(dup2(pipefd[1], 2) == -1 && errno == EINTR);
 		close(pipefd[0]);
 		close(pipefd[1]);
-		close(cwdfd);
+		if(cwdfd >= 0) {
+			close(cwdfd);
+		}
 
 		/* use fprintf instead of _alpm_log to send output through the parent */
 		if(chroot(handle->root) != 0) {