diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/__init__.py
index 9e97d9e25..d7f0ba5bb 100755
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/__init__.py
@@ -267,9 +267,14 @@ class UFOReader(_UFOBaseIO):
 			)
 		self._path = fsdecode(path)
 		self._validate = validate
-		self.readMetaInfo(validate=validate)
 		self._upConvertedKerningData = None
 
+		try:
+			self.readMetaInfo(validate=validate)
+		except UFOLibError:
+			self.close()
+			raise
+
 	# properties
 
 	def _get_path(self):