diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/GC.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/GC.java
index f25feee8f..4fc9582d3 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/GC.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/internal/storage/file/GC.java
@@ -1683,8 +1683,9 @@ private void failedToLock() {
 
 		private void gcAlreadyRunning() {
 			close();
-			try {
-				Optional<String> s = Files.lines(pidFile).findFirst();
+			Optional<String> s;
+			try (Stream<String> lines = Files.lines(pidFile)) {
+				s = lines.findFirst();
 				String machine = null;
 				String pid = null;
 				if (s.isPresent()) {