diff --git a/src/utils.c b/src/utils.c
index dcaa630a..ce9995b0 100644
--- a/src/utils.c
+++ b/src/utils.c
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ int system1(char const *cmd)
                 set_cloexec(stdin_dup);
             }
             (void) close(devnull);
+        } else {
+            (void) close(stdin_dup);
+            stdin_dup = -1;
         }
     }