diff --git a/lash.c b/lash.c
index 077cb1182..57d969e40 100644
--- a/lash.c
+++ b/lash.c
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ static int builtin_exec(struct child_prog *child)
 	if (child->argv[1] == NULL)
 		return EXIT_SUCCESS;   /* Really? */
 	child->argv++;
+	close_all();
 	pseudo_exec(child);
 	/* never returns */
 }
diff --git a/sh.c b/sh.c
index 077cb1182..57d969e40 100644
--- a/sh.c
+++ b/sh.c
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ static int builtin_exec(struct child_prog *child)
 	if (child->argv[1] == NULL)
 		return EXIT_SUCCESS;   /* Really? */
 	child->argv++;
+	close_all();
 	pseudo_exec(child);
 	/* never returns */
 }
diff --git a/shell/lash.c b/shell/lash.c
index 077cb1182..57d969e40 100644
--- a/shell/lash.c
+++ b/shell/lash.c
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ static int builtin_exec(struct child_prog *child)
 	if (child->argv[1] == NULL)
 		return EXIT_SUCCESS;   /* Really? */
 	child->argv++;
+	close_all();
 	pseudo_exec(child);
 	/* never returns */
 }