diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/FileUtils.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/FileUtils.java
index 5df67cb52..39a1e77cd 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/FileUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/FileUtils.java
@@ -1303,6 +1303,9 @@ public class FileUtils {
 
     
     private static void closeQuietly(Object o) {
+        if (null == o) {
+            return;
+        }
         try {
             if(ReflectUtil.respondsTo(o, "close")) {
                 ReflectUtil.invoke(o, "close");