diff --git a/command/apply.go b/command/apply.go
index 941d1db88..7553da047 100644
--- a/command/apply.go
+++ b/command/apply.go
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ func (c *ApplyCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 		log.Printf("[INFO] Writing backup state to: %s", backupPath)
 		f, err := os.Create(backupPath)
 		if err == nil {
-			defer f.Close()
 			err = terraform.WriteState(c.State, f)
+			f.Close()
 		}
 		if err != nil {
 			c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error writing backup state file: %s", err))
diff --git a/command/plan.go b/command/plan.go
index 32ee31527..67edae234 100644
--- a/command/plan.go
+++ b/command/plan.go
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ func (c *PlanCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 			log.Printf("[INFO] Writing backup state to: %s", backupPath)
 			f, err := os.Create(backupPath)
 			if err == nil {
-				defer f.Close()
 				err = terraform.WriteState(c.State, f)
+				f.Close()
 			}
 			if err != nil {
 				c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error writing backup state file: %s", err))
diff --git a/command/refresh.go b/command/refresh.go
index f3038f96a..69ff45601 100644
--- a/command/refresh.go
+++ b/command/refresh.go
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ func (c *RefreshCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 		log.Printf("[INFO] Writing backup state to: %s", backupPath)
 		f, err := os.Create(backupPath)
 		if err == nil {
-			defer f.Close()
 			err = terraform.WriteState(c.State, f)
+			f.Close()
 		}
 		if err != nil {
 			c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error writing backup state file: %s", err))