diff --git a/swig/include/python/gdal_python.i b/swig/include/python/gdal_python.i
index fac167ee295b..67610e5cfc4e 100644
--- a/swig/include/python/gdal_python.i
+++ b/swig/include/python/gdal_python.i
@@ -5018,6 +5018,7 @@ class VSIFile(BytesIO):
 
         self._fp = VSIFOpenExL(self._path, self._mode, True)
         if self._fp is None:
+            self._closed = True
             raise OSError(VSIGetLastErrorMsg())
 
         self._closed = False