diff --git a/modules/icing/pirep_goes.py b/modules/icing/pirep_goes.py
index 0bf170d8cb15a5aaa46958505fe93984c401f0ea..34a52c6a8c59201ac05feed6e2ff4df629752bbd 100644
--- a/modules/icing/pirep_goes.py
+++ b/modules/icing/pirep_goes.py
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ def create_file(filename, data_dct, ds_list, lon_c, lat_c, time_s, fl_alt_s, ici
         h5f_ds.dims[2].label = 'x'
 
     h5f.close()
+    h5f_expl.close()
 
 
 def run(pirep_dct, outfile=None, outfile_l1b=None, dt_str_start=None, dt_str_end=None):