diff --git a/modules/dcache/src/main/java/org/dcache/pool/repository/v5/ReadHandleImpl.java b/modules/dcache/src/main/java/org/dcache/pool/repository/v5/ReadHandleImpl.java
index 4a518beba02..cc1b8eb8cf0 100644
--- a/modules/dcache/src/main/java/org/dcache/pool/repository/v5/ReadHandleImpl.java
+++ b/modules/dcache/src/main/java/org/dcache/pool/repository/v5/ReadHandleImpl.java
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class ReadHandleImpl implements ReplicaDescriptor {
     private final Set<? extends OpenOption> _openOptions;
     private FileAttributes _fileAttributes;
     private boolean _open;
+    private Exception _closedBy;
 
     ReadHandleImpl(PnfsHandler pnfs, ReplicaRecord entry, FileAttributes fileAttributes,
           boolean isInternalActivity) {
@@ -63,10 +64,11 @@ class ReadHandleImpl implements ReplicaDescriptor {
     @Override
     public synchronized void close() throws IllegalStateException {
         if (!_open) {
-            throw new IllegalStateException("Handle is closed");
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Handle is closed", _closedBy);
         }
         _entry.decrementLinkCount();
         _open = false;
+        _closedBy = new Exception("Previous, successful close.");
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/modules/dcache/src/main/java/org/dcache/pool/repository/v5/WriteHandleImpl.java b/modules/dcache/src/main/java/org/dcache/pool/repository/v5/WriteHandleImpl.java
index be77fddb2c2..7a469db06ca 100644
--- a/modules/dcache/src/main/java/org/dcache/pool/repository/v5/WriteHandleImpl.java
+++ b/modules/dcache/src/main/java/org/dcache/pool/repository/v5/WriteHandleImpl.java
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ enum HandleState {
     private Long _atime;
 
     private boolean hasChannelBeenCreated;
+    private Exception _closedBy;
 
     WriteHandleImpl(ReplicaRepository repository,
           Allocator allocator,
@@ -358,7 +359,7 @@ public synchronized void close()
           throws IllegalStateException {
         switch (_state) {
             case CLOSED:
-                throw new IllegalStateException("Handle is closed");
+                throw new IllegalStateException("Handle is closed", _closedBy);
 
             case OPEN:
                 fail();
@@ -369,6 +370,7 @@ public synchronized void close()
                 setState(HandleState.CLOSED);
                 break;
         }
+        _closedBy = new Exception("Previous, successful close.");
     }
 
     /**