diff --git a/Lib/aifc.py b/Lib/aifc.py
index 197e755..b4123ca 100644
--- a/Lib/aifc.py
+++ b/Lib/aifc.py
@@ -282,10 +282,11 @@
         self._convert = None
         self._markers = []
         self._soundpos = 0
-        self._file = Chunk(file)
-        if self._file.getname() != 'FORM':
+        self._file = file
+        chunk = Chunk(file)
+        if chunk.getname() != 'FORM':
             raise Error, 'file does not start with FORM id'
-        formdata = self._file.read(4)
+        formdata = chunk.read(4)
         if formdata == 'AIFF':
             self._aifc = 0
         elif formdata == 'AIFC':
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_aifc.py b/Lib/test/test_aifc.py
index 0aed908..54694ea 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_aifc.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_aifc.py
@@ -91,6 +91,21 @@
         # XXX: this test fails, not sure if it should succeed or not
         # self.assertEqual(f.readframes(5), fout.readframes(5))
 
+    def test_close(self):
+        class Wrapfile(object):
+            def __init__(self, file):
+                self.file = open(file)
+                self.closed = False
+            def close(self):
+                self.file.close()
+                self.closed = True
+            def __getattr__(self, attr): return getattr(self.file, attr)
+        testfile = Wrapfile(self.sndfilepath)
+        f = self.f = aifc.open(testfile)
+        self.assertEqual(testfile.closed, False)
+        f.close()
+        self.assertEqual(testfile.closed, True)
+
 
 def test_main():
     run_unittest(AIFCTest)