diff --git a/src/watchdog/observers/inotify_c.py b/src/watchdog/observers/inotify_c.py
index c018efb68..7cceb5f5c 100644
--- a/src/watchdog/observers/inotify_c.py
+++ b/src/watchdog/observers/inotify_c.py
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ def close(self):
         with self._lock:
             wd = self._wd_for_path[self._path]
             inotify_rm_watch(self._inotify_fd, wd)
+            os.close(self._inotify_fd)
 
     def read_events(self, event_buffer_size=DEFAULT_EVENT_BUFFER_SIZE):
         """