diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/indels/IndelInspectorMain.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/indels/IndelInspectorMain.java
index 5d7c799c3..e3a175e4d 100755
--- a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/indels/IndelInspectorMain.java
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/indels/IndelInspectorMain.java
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ public class IndelInspectorMain extends CommandLineProgram {
         col.printLengthHistograms();
         samReader.close();
         ptWriter.close();
+        if ( ptFailedWriter != null ) ptFailedWriter.close();
         return 0;
     }