diff --git a/Lib/test/test_sax.py b/Lib/test/test_sax.py
index a4228dc654ddca..87a8658672b83e 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_sax.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_sax.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 # $Id$
 
 from xml.sax import make_parser, ContentHandler, \
-                    SAXException, SAXReaderNotAvailable, SAXParseException
+                    SAXException, SAXReaderNotAvailable, SAXParseException, \
+                    saxutils
 try:
     make_parser()
 except SAXReaderNotAvailable:
@@ -173,6 +174,21 @@ def test_parse_InputSource(self):
             input.setEncoding('iso-8859-1')
             self.check_parse(input)
 
+    def test_parse_close_source(self):
+        builtin_open = open
+        non_local = {'fileobj': None}
+
+        def mock_open(*args):
+            fileobj = builtin_open(*args)
+            non_local['fileobj'] = fileobj
+            return fileobj
+
+        with support.swap_attr(saxutils, 'open', mock_open):
+            make_xml_file(self.data, 'iso-8859-1', None)
+            with self.assertRaises(SAXException):
+                self.check_parse(TESTFN)
+            self.assertTrue(non_local['fileobj'].closed)
+
     def check_parseString(self, s):
         from xml.sax import parseString
         result = StringIO()
diff --git a/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py b/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py
index 21c9db91e9d465..bae663bdd99124 100644
--- a/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py
+++ b/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py
@@ -105,9 +105,16 @@ def parse(self, source):
         source = saxutils.prepare_input_source(source)
 
         self._source = source
-        self.reset()
-        self._cont_handler.setDocumentLocator(ExpatLocator(self))
-        xmlreader.IncrementalParser.parse(self, source)
+        try:
+            self.reset()
+            self._cont_handler.setDocumentLocator(ExpatLocator(self))
+            xmlreader.IncrementalParser.parse(self, source)
+        except:
+            # bpo-30264: Close the source on error to not leak resources:
+            # xml.sax.parse() doesn't give access to the underlying parser
+            # to the caller
+            self._close_source()
+            raise
 
     def prepareParser(self, source):
         if source.getSystemId() is not None:
@@ -216,6 +223,17 @@ def feed(self, data, isFinal = 0):
             # FIXME: when to invoke error()?
             self._err_handler.fatalError(exc)
 
+    def _close_source(self):
+        source = self._source
+        try:
+            file = source.getCharacterStream()
+            if file is not None:
+                file.close()
+        finally:
+            file = source.getByteStream()
+            if file is not None:
+                file.close()
+
     def close(self):
         if (self._entity_stack or self._parser is None or
             isinstance(self._parser, _ClosedParser)):
@@ -235,6 +253,7 @@ def close(self):
                 parser.ErrorColumnNumber = self._parser.ErrorColumnNumber
                 parser.ErrorLineNumber = self._parser.ErrorLineNumber
                 self._parser = parser
+            self._close_source()
 
     def _reset_cont_handler(self):
         self._parser.ProcessingInstructionHandler = \