diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/acme/cols.c b/sys/src/cmd/acme/cols.c
index 386233d30..a5e0fbd28 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/acme/cols.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/acme/cols.c
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ coladd(Column *c, Window *w, Window *clone, int y)
 	}
 	if(w == nil){
 		w = emalloc(sizeof(Window));
+		w->rdselfd = -1;
 		w->col = c;
 		draw(screen, r, textcols[BACK], nil, ZP);
 		wininit(w, clone, r);
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/acme/xfid.c b/sys/src/cmd/acme/xfid.c
index 38db4acd0..2a8e17bdb 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/acme/xfid.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/acme/xfid.c
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ xfidclose(Xfid *x)
 			break;
 		case QWrdsel:
 			close(w->rdselfd);
-			w->rdselfd = 0;
+			w->rdselfd = -1;
 			break;
 		case QWwrsel:
 			w->nomark = FALSE;