diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/fe-common-core.c b/src/fe-common/core/fe-common-core.c
index ada22785..37eab282 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/fe-common-core.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/fe-common-core.c
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ static void autorun_startup(void)
 	}
 	g_string_free(buf, TRUE);
 
-	g_io_channel_close(handle);
+	g_io_channel_unref(handle);
 }
 
 void fe_common_core_finish_init(void)
diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/fe-core-commands.c b/src/fe-common/core/fe-core-commands.c
index afad131d..765e70c6 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/fe-core-commands.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/fe-core-commands.c
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ static void cmd_cat(const char *data)
 	}
 	g_string_free(buf, TRUE);
 
-	g_io_channel_close(handle);
+	g_io_channel_unref(handle);
 }
 
 /* SYNTAX: BEEP */
diff --git a/src/fe-common/core/fe-help.c b/src/fe-common/core/fe-help.c
index c2b1f596..f3eec5fb 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/core/fe-help.c
+++ b/src/fe-common/core/fe-help.c
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ static int show_help_file(const char *file)
 	}
 	g_string_free(buf, TRUE);
 
-	g_io_channel_close(handle);
+	g_io_channel_unref(handle);
 	return TRUE;
 }