diff --git a/contrib/check-code.py b/contrib/check-code.py
--- a/contrib/check-code.py
+++ b/contrib/check-code.py
@@ -319,9 +319,9 @@
      "use util.readfile() instead"),
     (r'[\s\(](open|file)\([^)]*\)\.write\(',
      "use util.writefile() instead"),
-    (r'^[\s\(]*(open(er)?|file)\([^)]*\)',
+    (r'^[\s\(]*(open(er)?|file)\([^)]*\)(?!\.close\(\))',
      "always assign an opened file to a variable, and close it afterwards"),
-    (r'[\s\(](open|file)\([^)]*\)\.',
+    (r'[\s\(](open|file)\([^)]*\)\.(?!close\(\))',
      "always assign an opened file to a variable, and close it afterwards"),
     (r'(?i)descend[e]nt', "the proper spelling is descendAnt"),
     (r'\.debug\(\_', "don't mark debug messages for translation"),