diff --git a/pkg/validation/spec/ref.go b/pkg/validation/spec/ref.go
index 775b3b0c3..decf4a603 100644
--- a/pkg/validation/spec/ref.go
+++ b/pkg/validation/spec/ref.go
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ func (r *Ref) IsValidURI(basepaths ...string) bool {
 		if err != nil {
 			return false
 		}
+		defer rr.Body.Close()
 
 		return rr.StatusCode/100 == 2
 	}