diff --git a/internal/slicer/slicer_test.go b/internal/slicer/slicer_test.go
index 3d9ffdf1..4d31fc5b 100644
--- a/internal/slicer/slicer_test.go
+++ b/internal/slicer/slicer_test.go
@@ -1277,11 +1277,11 @@ func runSlicerTests(c *C, tests []slicerTest) {
 			c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 			c.Assert(s.Mode(), Equals, slicer.ManifestMode)
 			f, err := os.Open(path.Join(options.TargetDir, manifestPath))
-			defer f.Close()
 			c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+			defer f.Close()
 			r, err := zstd.NewReader(f)
-			defer r.Close()
 			c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+			defer r.Close()
 			mfest, err := manifest.Read(r)
 			c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 			err = manifest.Validate(mfest)