diff --git a/Lib/http/client.py b/Lib/http/client.py
index 2ddb0148cc1..c83c53b60b0 100644
--- a/Lib/http/client.py
+++ b/Lib/http/client.py
@@ -488,6 +488,7 @@ def read(self, amt=None):
             return b""
 
         if self._method == "HEAD":
+            self.close()
             return b""
 
         if self.chunked: