diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReader.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReader.java
index fcabddfb4..d7ebf43ad 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReader.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReader.java
@@ -211,8 +211,10 @@ public class FlatFileItemReader<T> extends AbstractItemCountingItemStreamItemRea
 	@Override
 	protected void doClose() throws Exception {
 		lineCount = 0;
-		reader.close();
-
+		if(resource.exists())
+		{
+			reader.close();
+		}
 	}
 
 	@Override
diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReaderTests.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReaderTests.java
index 31d98dea0..590abb653 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReaderTests.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/test/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReaderTests.java
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ public class FlatFileItemReaderTests {
 
 		reader.open(executionContext);
 		assertNull(reader.read());
-
+		reader.close();
 	}
 
 	@Test