diff --git a/system/popen/popen.c b/system/popen/popen.c
index 5da6cadf1d0..d9286c9592e 100644
--- a/system/popen/popen.c
+++ b/system/popen/popen.c
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ FILE *popen(FAR const char *command, FAR const char *mode)
 
   close(newfd[0]);
 
-  if (rw)
+  if (rw && newfd[0] != newfd[1])
     {
       close(newfd[1]);
     }