diff --git a/osdep/LinuxEthernetTap.cpp b/osdep/LinuxEthernetTap.cpp
index 8a557c077..d75fcdf97 100644
--- a/osdep/LinuxEthernetTap.cpp
+++ b/osdep/LinuxEthernetTap.cpp
@@ -327,14 +327,14 @@ LinuxEthernetTap::~LinuxEthernetTap()
 	(void)::write(_shutdownSignalPipe[1],"\0",1); // causes reader thread(s) to exit
 	_tapq.post(std::pair<void *,int>(nullptr,0)); // causes processor thread to exit
 
-	::close(_fd);
-	::close(_shutdownSignalPipe[0]);
-	::close(_shutdownSignalPipe[1]);
-
 	_tapReaderThread[0].join();
 	_tapReaderThread[1].join();
 	_tapProcessorThread.join();
 
+	::close(_fd);
+	::close(_shutdownSignalPipe[0]);
+	::close(_shutdownSignalPipe[1]);
+
 	for(std::vector<void *>::iterator i(_buffers.begin());i!=_buffers.end();++i)
 		free(*i);
 	std::vector< std::pair<void *,int> > dv(_tapq.drain());