diff --git a/.changeset/old-beers-melt.md b/.changeset/old-beers-melt.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9ade9461
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/old-beers-melt.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"get-uri": patch
+---
+
+Close the file descriptor handle when there is a cache hit for `file:` protocol
diff --git a/packages/get-uri/src/file.ts b/packages/get-uri/src/file.ts
index 0357fd34..cdbf0d1c 100644
--- a/packages/get-uri/src/file.ts
+++ b/packages/get-uri/src/file.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ export const file: GetUriProtocol<FileOptions> = async (
 
 		// if a `cache` was provided, check if the file has not been modified
 		if (cache && cache.stat && stat && isNotModified(cache.stat, stat)) {
+			await fdHandle.close();
 			throw new NotModifiedError();
 		}