diff --git a/extlib/benz/load.c b/extlib/benz/load.c
index 2f3269d2..cd609afe 100644
--- a/extlib/benz/load.c
+++ b/extlib/benz/load.c
@@ -22,7 +22,13 @@ pic_load_cstr(pic_state *pic, const char *src)
 {
   struct pic_port *port = pic_open_input_string(pic, src);
 
-  pic_load_port(pic, port);
+  pic_try {
+    pic_load_port(pic, port);
+  }
+  pic_catch {
+    pic_close_port(pic, port);
+    pic_raise(pic, pic->err);
+  }
 
   pic_close_port(pic, port);
 }
diff --git a/extlib/benz/read.c b/extlib/benz/read.c
index 282775e8..e37ca94c 100644
--- a/extlib/benz/read.c
+++ b/extlib/benz/read.c
@@ -881,7 +881,13 @@ pic_read_cstr(pic_state *pic, const char *str)
   struct pic_port *port = pic_open_input_string(pic, str);
   pic_value form;
 
-  form = pic_read(pic, port);
+  pic_try {
+    form = pic_read(pic, port);
+  }
+  pic_catch {
+    pic_close_port(pic, port);
+    pic_raise(pic, pic->err);
+  }
 
   pic_close_port(pic, port);