diff --git a/Lib/test/test_mailbox.py b/Lib/test/test_mailbox.py
index 9206dc4..83802c1 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_mailbox.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_mailbox.py
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@
 
     def test_flush(self):
         # Write changes to disk
-        self._test_flush_or_close(self._box.flush)
+        self._test_flush_or_close(self._box.flush, True)
 
     def test_lock_unlock(self):
         # Lock and unlock the mailbox
@@ -391,14 +391,16 @@
 
     def test_close(self):
         # Close mailbox and flush changes to disk
-        self._test_flush_or_close(self._box.close)
+        self._test_flush_or_close(self._box.close, False)
 
-    def _test_flush_or_close(self, method):
+    def _test_flush_or_close(self, method, should_call_close):
         contents = [self._template % i for i in xrange(3)]
         self._box.add(contents[0])
         self._box.add(contents[1])
         self._box.add(contents[2])
         method()
+        if should_call_close:
+            self._box.close()
         self._box = self._factory(self._path)
         keys = self._box.keys()
         self.assert_(len(keys) == 3)