diff --git a/examples/defer/defer.go b/examples/defer/defer.go
index 06c827f..8d1c3ed 100644
--- a/examples/defer/defer.go
+++ b/examples/defer/defer.go
@@ -40,5 +40,9 @@ func writeFile(f *os.File) {
 
 func closeFile(f *os.File) {
 	fmt.Println("closing")
-	f.Close()
+	err := f.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		_, _ = fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "error: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 }