diff --git a/pkg/action/diff.go b/pkg/action/diff.go
index 6a8031ff1..ddc337e61 100644
--- a/pkg/action/diff.go
+++ b/pkg/action/diff.go
@@ -251,14 +251,13 @@ func Diff(ctx context.Context, c malcontent.Config, _ *clog.Logger) (*malcontent
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+		defer srcFile.Close()
 
 		st, err := srcFile.Stat()
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		defer srcFile.Close()
-
 		// create a buffer sized to the minimum of the file's size or the default ReadBuffer
 		// only do so if we actually need to retrieve the file's contents
 		buf := readPool.Get(min(st.Size(), file.ReadBuffer)) //nolint:nilaway // the buffer pool is created above