diff --git a/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/fixtures.py b/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/fixtures.py
index 13631c1be..dede9e88d 100644
--- a/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/fixtures.py
+++ b/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/fixtures.py
@@ -164,6 +164,8 @@ def bitcoind(directory, teardown_checks):
         bitcoind.proc.kill()
     bitcoind.proc.wait()
 
+    bitcoind.cleanup_files()
+
 
 class TeardownErrors(object):
     def __init__(self):
diff --git a/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/utils.py b/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/utils.py
index 6eda2d9ff..9d1ac4a77 100644
--- a/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/utils.py
+++ b/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/utils.py
@@ -256,6 +256,14 @@ class TailableProc(object):
         self.proc.kill()
         self.proc.wait()
 
+    def cleanup_files(self):
+        """Ensure files are closed."""
+        for f in ["stdout_write", "stderr_write", "stdout_read", "stderr_read"]:
+            try:
+                getattr(self, f).close()
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+
     def logs_catchup(self):
         """Save the latest stdout / stderr contents; return true if we got anything.
         """