diff --git a/Modules/_io/fileio.c b/Modules/_io/fileio.c
index 83921ea..25a0c27 100644
--- a/Modules/_io/fileio.c
+++ b/Modules/_io/fileio.c
@@ -539,6 +539,8 @@
     Py_ssize_t total = 0;
     int n;
 
+    if (self->fd < 0)
+        return err_closed();
     if (!_PyVerify_fd(self->fd))
         return PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_IOError);