diff --git a/Lib/aifc.py b/Lib/aifc.py
index 9e64de9c441..0b4f85a3050 100644
--- a/Lib/aifc.py
+++ b/Lib/aifc.py
@@ -356,7 +356,10 @@ class Aifc_read:
         self._soundpos = 0
 
     def close(self):
-        self._file.close()
+        file = self._file
+        if file is not None:
+            self._file = None
+            file.close()
 
     def tell(self):
         return self._soundpos
diff --git a/Lib/binhex.py b/Lib/binhex.py
index 14badb71aa5..56b5f852c00 100644
--- a/Lib/binhex.py
+++ b/Lib/binhex.py
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ class Error(Exception):
     pass
 
 # States (what have we written)
-[_DID_HEADER, _DID_DATA, _DID_RSRC] = range(3)
+_DID_HEADER = 0
+_DID_DATA = 1
 
 # Various constants
 REASONABLY_LARGE = 32768  # Minimal amount we pass the rle-coder
@@ -213,16 +214,21 @@ class BinHex:
         self._write(data)
 
     def close(self):
-        if self.state < _DID_DATA:
-            self.close_data()
-        if self.state != _DID_DATA:
-            raise Error('Close at the wrong time')
-        if self.rlen != 0:
-            raise Error("Incorrect resource-datasize, diff=%r" % (self.rlen,))
-        self._writecrc()
-        self.ofp.close()
-        self.state = None
-        del self.ofp
+        if self.state is None:
+            return
+        try:
+            if self.state < _DID_DATA:
+                self.close_data()
+            if self.state != _DID_DATA:
+                raise Error('Close at the wrong time')
+            if self.rlen != 0:
+                raise Error("Incorrect resource-datasize, diff=%r" % (self.rlen,))
+            self._writecrc()
+        finally:
+            self.state = None
+            ofp = self.ofp
+            del self.ofp
+            ofp.close()
 
 def binhex(inp, out):
     """binhex(infilename, outfilename): create binhex-encoded copy of a file"""
@@ -435,11 +441,15 @@ class HexBin:
         return self._read(n)
 
     def close(self):
-        if self.rlen:
-            dummy = self.read_rsrc(self.rlen)
-        self._checkcrc()
-        self.state = _DID_RSRC
-        self.ifp.close()
+        if self.state is None:
+            return
+        try:
+            if self.rlen:
+                dummy = self.read_rsrc(self.rlen)
+            self._checkcrc()
+        finally:
+            self.state = None
+            self.ifp.close()
 
 def hexbin(inp, out):
     """hexbin(infilename, outfilename) - Decode binhexed file"""
diff --git a/Lib/chunk.py b/Lib/chunk.py
index dc90a7522e3..98187b2c43a 100644
--- a/Lib/chunk.py
+++ b/Lib/chunk.py
@@ -85,8 +85,10 @@ class Chunk:
 
     def close(self):
         if not self.closed:
-            self.skip()
-            self.closed = True
+            try:
+                self.skip()
+            finally:
+                self.closed = True
 
     def isatty(self):
         if self.closed:
diff --git a/Lib/dbm/dumb.py b/Lib/dbm/dumb.py
index 34240968e72..7777a7cae67 100644
--- a/Lib/dbm/dumb.py
+++ b/Lib/dbm/dumb.py
@@ -258,8 +258,10 @@ class _Database(collections.MutableMapping):
             raise error('DBM object has already been closed') from None
 
     def close(self):
-        self._commit()
-        self._index = self._datfile = self._dirfile = self._bakfile = None
+        try:
+            self._commit()
+        finally:
+            self._index = self._datfile = self._dirfile = self._bakfile = None
 
     __del__ = close
 
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/text_file.py b/Lib/distutils/text_file.py
index 40b8484a685..478336f0d2b 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/text_file.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/text_file.py
@@ -118,10 +118,11 @@ class TextFile:
     def close(self):
         """Close the current file and forget everything we know about it
            (filename, current line number)."""
-        self.file.close()
+        file = self.file
         self.file = None
         self.filename = None
         self.current_line = None
+        file.close()
 
     def gen_error(self, msg, line=None):
         outmsg = []
diff --git a/Lib/fileinput.py b/Lib/fileinput.py
index 87758ad82b3..af810d1d732 100644
--- a/Lib/fileinput.py
+++ b/Lib/fileinput.py
@@ -238,8 +238,10 @@ class FileInput:
         self.close()
 
     def close(self):
-        self.nextfile()
-        self._files = ()
+        try:
+            self.nextfile()
+        finally:
+            self._files = ()
 
     def __enter__(self):
         return self
@@ -275,29 +277,31 @@ class FileInput:
 
     def nextfile(self):
         savestdout = self._savestdout
-        self._savestdout = 0
+        self._savestdout = None
         if savestdout:
             sys.stdout = savestdout
 
         output = self._output
-        self._output = 0
-        if output:
-            output.close()
+        self._output = None
+        try:
+            if output:
+                output.close()
+        finally:
+            file = self._file
+            self._file = None
+            try:
+                if file and not self._isstdin:
+                    file.close()
+            finally:
+                backupfilename = self._backupfilename
+                self._backupfilename = None
+                if backupfilename and not self._backup:
+                    try: os.unlink(backupfilename)
+                    except OSError: pass
 
-        file = self._file
-        self._file = 0
-        if file and not self._isstdin:
-            file.close()
-
-        backupfilename = self._backupfilename
-        self._backupfilename = 0
-        if backupfilename and not self._backup:
-            try: os.unlink(backupfilename)
-            except OSError: pass
-
-        self._isstdin = False
-        self._buffer = []
-        self._bufindex = 0
+                self._isstdin = False
+                self._buffer = []
+                self._bufindex = 0
 
     def readline(self):
         try:
diff --git a/Lib/ftplib.py b/Lib/ftplib.py
index 135ec9c1dff..54b0e2cfcb3 100644
--- a/Lib/ftplib.py
+++ b/Lib/ftplib.py
@@ -667,11 +667,16 @@ class FTP:
 
     def close(self):
         '''Close the connection without assuming anything about it.'''
-        if self.file is not None:
-            self.file.close()
-        if self.sock is not None:
-            self.sock.close()
-        self.file = self.sock = None
+        try:
+            file = self.file
+            self.file = None
+            if file is not None:
+                file.close()
+        finally:
+            sock = self.sock
+            self.sock = None
+            if sock is not None:
+                sock.close()
 
 try:
     import ssl
diff --git a/Lib/gzip.py b/Lib/gzip.py
index 21d83e6414d..deaf15db4f9 100644
--- a/Lib/gzip.py
+++ b/Lib/gzip.py
@@ -503,19 +503,21 @@ class GzipFile(io.BufferedIOBase):
         return self.fileobj is None
 
     def close(self):
-        if self.fileobj is None:
+        fileobj = self.fileobj
+        if fileobj is None:
             return
-        if self.mode == WRITE:
-            self.fileobj.write(self.compress.flush())
-            write32u(self.fileobj, self.crc)
-            # self.size may exceed 2GB, or even 4GB
-            write32u(self.fileobj, self.size & 0xffffffff)
-            self.fileobj = None
-        elif self.mode == READ:
-            self.fileobj = None
-        if self.myfileobj:
-            self.myfileobj.close()
-            self.myfileobj = None
+        self.fileobj = None
+        try:
+            if self.mode == WRITE:
+                fileobj.write(self.compress.flush())
+                write32u(fileobj, self.crc)
+                # self.size may exceed 2GB, or even 4GB
+                write32u(fileobj, self.size & 0xffffffff)
+        finally:
+            myfileobj = self.myfileobj
+            if myfileobj:
+                self.myfileobj = None
+                myfileobj.close()
 
     def flush(self,zlib_mode=zlib.Z_SYNC_FLUSH):
         self._check_closed()
diff --git a/Lib/http/client.py b/Lib/http/client.py
index ac120e796c4..80c80cf576e 100644
--- a/Lib/http/client.py
+++ b/Lib/http/client.py
@@ -388,9 +388,11 @@ class HTTPResponse(io.BufferedIOBase):
         fp.close()
 
     def close(self):
-        super().close() # set "closed" flag
-        if self.fp:
-            self._close_conn()
+        try:
+            super().close() # set "closed" flag
+        finally:
+            if self.fp:
+                self._close_conn()
 
     # These implementations are for the benefit of io.BufferedReader.
 
@@ -829,13 +831,17 @@ class HTTPConnection:
 
     def close(self):
         """Close the connection to the HTTP server."""
-        if self.sock:
-            self.sock.close()   # close it manually... there may be other refs
-            self.sock = None
-        if self.__response:
-            self.__response.close()
-            self.__response = None
         self.__state = _CS_IDLE
+        try:
+            sock = self.sock
+            if sock:
+                self.sock = None
+                sock.close()   # close it manually... there may be other refs
+        finally:
+            response = self.__response
+            if response:
+                self.__response = None
+                response.close()
 
     def send(self, data):
         """Send `data' to the server.
diff --git a/Lib/logging/__init__.py b/Lib/logging/__init__.py
index 4942147055b..104b0be8d07 100644
--- a/Lib/logging/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/logging/__init__.py
@@ -1013,14 +1013,19 @@ class FileHandler(StreamHandler):
         """
         self.acquire()
         try:
-            if self.stream:
-                self.flush()
-                if hasattr(self.stream, "close"):
-                    self.stream.close()
-                self.stream = None
-            # Issue #19523: call unconditionally to
-            # prevent a handler leak when delay is set
-            StreamHandler.close(self)
+            try:
+                if self.stream:
+                    try:
+                        self.flush()
+                    finally:
+                        stream = self.stream
+                        self.stream = None
+                        if hasattr(stream, "close"):
+                            stream.close()
+            finally:
+                # Issue #19523: call unconditionally to
+                # prevent a handler leak when delay is set
+                StreamHandler.close(self)
         finally:
             self.release()
 
diff --git a/Lib/logging/handlers.py b/Lib/logging/handlers.py
index d4f8aef6e70..02a5fc1283d 100644
--- a/Lib/logging/handlers.py
+++ b/Lib/logging/handlers.py
@@ -627,9 +627,10 @@ class SocketHandler(logging.Handler):
         """
         self.acquire()
         try:
-            if self.sock:
-                self.sock.close()
+            sock = self.sock
+            if sock:
                 self.sock = None
+                sock.close()
             logging.Handler.close(self)
         finally:
             self.release()
@@ -1213,8 +1214,10 @@ class BufferingHandler(logging.Handler):
 
         This version just flushes and chains to the parent class' close().
         """
-        self.flush()
-        logging.Handler.close(self)
+        try:
+            self.flush()
+        finally:
+            logging.Handler.close(self)
 
 class MemoryHandler(BufferingHandler):
     """
@@ -1268,13 +1271,15 @@ class MemoryHandler(BufferingHandler):
         """
         Flush, set the target to None and lose the buffer.
         """
-        self.flush()
-        self.acquire()
         try:
-            self.target = None
-            BufferingHandler.close(self)
+            self.flush()
         finally:
-            self.release()
+            self.acquire()
+            try:
+                self.target = None
+                BufferingHandler.close(self)
+            finally:
+                self.release()
 
 
 class QueueHandler(logging.Handler):
diff --git a/Lib/mailbox.py b/Lib/mailbox.py
index e7f31df1e53..24d4aec8a48 100644
--- a/Lib/mailbox.py
+++ b/Lib/mailbox.py
@@ -722,10 +722,14 @@ class _singlefileMailbox(Mailbox):
 
     def close(self):
         """Flush and close the mailbox."""
-        self.flush()
-        if self._locked:
-            self.unlock()
-        self._file.close()  # Sync has been done by self.flush() above.
+        try:
+            self.flush()
+        finally:
+            try:
+                if self._locked:
+                    self.unlock()
+            finally:
+                self._file.close()  # Sync has been done by self.flush() above.
 
     def _lookup(self, key=None):
         """Return (start, stop) or raise KeyError."""
@@ -1966,9 +1970,11 @@ class _ProxyFile:
     def close(self):
         """Close the file."""
         if hasattr(self, '_file'):
-            if hasattr(self._file, 'close'):
-                self._file.close()
-            del self._file
+            try:
+                if hasattr(self._file, 'close'):
+                    self._file.close()
+            finally:
+                del self._file
 
     def _read(self, size, read_method):
         """Read size bytes using read_method."""
diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/connection.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/connection.py
index 07d19de7e33..4c32237f14c 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/connection.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/connection.py
@@ -460,9 +460,10 @@ class Listener(object):
         '''
         Close the bound socket or named pipe of `self`.
         '''
-        if self._listener is not None:
-            self._listener.close()
+        listener = self._listener
+        if listener is not None:
             self._listener = None
+            listener.close()
 
     address = property(lambda self: self._listener._address)
     last_accepted = property(lambda self: self._listener._last_accepted)
@@ -594,9 +595,13 @@ class SocketListener(object):
         return Connection(s.detach())
 
     def close(self):
-        self._socket.close()
-        if self._unlink is not None:
-            self._unlink()
+        try:
+            self._socket.close()
+        finally:
+            unlink = self._unlink
+            if unlink is not None:
+                self._unlink = None
+                unlink()
 
 
 def SocketClient(address):
diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/queues.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/queues.py
index b004a6acfae..786a303b337 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/queues.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/queues.py
@@ -130,9 +130,13 @@ class Queue(object):
 
     def close(self):
         self._closed = True
-        self._reader.close()
-        if self._close:
-            self._close()
+        try:
+            self._reader.close()
+        finally:
+            close = self._close
+            if close:
+                self._close = None
+                close()
 
     def join_thread(self):
         debug('Queue.join_thread()')
diff --git a/Lib/poplib.py b/Lib/poplib.py
index 1224eacbefc..4915628b03f 100644
--- a/Lib/poplib.py
+++ b/Lib/poplib.py
@@ -276,18 +276,23 @@ class POP3:
 
     def close(self):
         """Close the connection without assuming anything about it."""
-        if self.file is not None:
-            self.file.close()
-        if self.sock is not None:
-            try:
-                self.sock.shutdown(socket.SHUT_RDWR)
-            except OSError as e:
-                # The server might already have closed the connection
-                if e.errno != errno.ENOTCONN:
-                    raise
-            finally:
-                self.sock.close()
-        self.file = self.sock = None
+        try:
+            file = self.file
+            self.file = None
+            if file is not None:
+                file.close()
+        finally:
+            sock = self.sock
+            self.sock = None
+            if sock is not None:
+                try:
+                    sock.shutdown(socket.SHUT_RDWR)
+                except OSError as e:
+                    # The server might already have closed the connection
+                    if e.errno != errno.ENOTCONN:
+                        raise
+                finally:
+                    sock.close()
 
     #__del__ = quit
 
diff --git a/Lib/selectors.py b/Lib/selectors.py
index 44a61508feb..e17ea363c8b 100644
--- a/Lib/selectors.py
+++ b/Lib/selectors.py
@@ -439,8 +439,10 @@ if hasattr(select, 'epoll'):
             return ready
 
         def close(self):
-            self._epoll.close()
-            super().close()
+            try:
+                self._epoll.close()
+            finally:
+                super().close()
 
 
 if hasattr(select, 'devpoll'):
@@ -496,8 +498,10 @@ if hasattr(select, 'devpoll'):
             return ready
 
         def close(self):
-            self._devpoll.close()
-            super().close()
+            try:
+                self._devpoll.close()
+            finally:
+                super().close()
 
 
 if hasattr(select, 'kqueue'):
@@ -566,8 +570,10 @@ if hasattr(select, 'kqueue'):
             return ready
 
         def close(self):
-            self._kqueue.close()
-            super().close()
+            try:
+                self._kqueue.close()
+            finally:
+                super().close()
 
 
 # Choose the best implementation, roughly:
diff --git a/Lib/shelve.py b/Lib/shelve.py
index cef580e5cdc..581baf1e6f3 100644
--- a/Lib/shelve.py
+++ b/Lib/shelve.py
@@ -138,17 +138,21 @@ class Shelf(collections.MutableMapping):
         self.close()
 
     def close(self):
-        self.sync()
+        if self.dict is None:
+            return
         try:
-            self.dict.close()
-        except AttributeError:
-            pass
-        # Catch errors that may happen when close is called from __del__
-        # because CPython is in interpreter shutdown.
-        try:
-            self.dict = _ClosedDict()
-        except (NameError, TypeError):
-            self.dict = None
+            self.sync()
+            try:
+                self.dict.close()
+            except AttributeError:
+                pass
+        finally:
+            # Catch errors that may happen when close is called from __del__
+            # because CPython is in interpreter shutdown.
+            try:
+                self.dict = _ClosedDict()
+            except:
+                self.dict = None
 
     def __del__(self):
         if not hasattr(self, 'writeback'):
diff --git a/Lib/smtplib.py b/Lib/smtplib.py
index 24237289d16..5c8dd722d69 100755
--- a/Lib/smtplib.py
+++ b/Lib/smtplib.py
@@ -880,12 +880,16 @@ class SMTP:
 
     def close(self):
         """Close the connection to the SMTP server."""
-        if self.file:
-            self.file.close()
-        self.file = None
-        if self.sock:
-            self.sock.close()
-        self.sock = None
+        try:
+            file = self.file
+            self.file = None
+            if file:
+                file.close()
+        finally:
+            sock = self.sock
+            self.sock = None
+            if sock:
+                sock.close()
 
     def quit(self):
         """Terminate the SMTP session."""
diff --git a/Lib/sunau.py b/Lib/sunau.py
index 3da41b75e4e..e760093dd2a 100644
--- a/Lib/sunau.py
+++ b/Lib/sunau.py
@@ -295,9 +295,11 @@ class Au_read:
         self._soundpos = pos
 
     def close(self):
-        if self._opened and self._file:
-            self._file.close()
-        self._file = None
+        file = self._file
+        if file:
+            self._file = None
+            if self._opened:
+                file.close()
 
 class Au_write:
 
@@ -438,9 +440,10 @@ class Au_write:
                     self._patchheader()
                 self._file.flush()
             finally:
-                if self._opened and self._file:
-                    self._file.close()
+                file = self._file
                 self._file = None
+                if self._opened:
+                    file.close()
 
     #
     # private methods
diff --git a/Lib/tarfile.py b/Lib/tarfile.py
index 720bbf7d134..43909f0df16 100755
--- a/Lib/tarfile.py
+++ b/Lib/tarfile.py
@@ -449,26 +449,26 @@ class _Stream:
         if self.closed:
             return
 
-        if self.mode == "w" and self.comptype != "tar":
-            self.buf += self.cmp.flush()
-
-        if self.mode == "w" and self.buf:
-            self.fileobj.write(self.buf)
-            self.buf = b""
-            if self.comptype == "gz":
-                # The native zlib crc is an unsigned 32-bit integer, but
-                # the Python wrapper implicitly casts that to a signed C
-                # long.  So, on a 32-bit box self.crc may "look negative",
-                # while the same crc on a 64-bit box may "look positive".
-                # To avoid irksome warnings from the `struct` module, force
-                # it to look positive on all boxes.
-                self.fileobj.write(struct.pack("<L", self.crc & 0xffffffff))
-                self.fileobj.write(struct.pack("<L", self.pos & 0xffffFFFF))
-
-        if not self._extfileobj:
-            self.fileobj.close()
-
         self.closed = True
+        try:
+            if self.mode == "w" and self.comptype != "tar":
+                self.buf += self.cmp.flush()
+
+            if self.mode == "w" and self.buf:
+                self.fileobj.write(self.buf)
+                self.buf = b""
+                if self.comptype == "gz":
+                    # The native zlib crc is an unsigned 32-bit integer, but
+                    # the Python wrapper implicitly casts that to a signed C
+                    # long.  So, on a 32-bit box self.crc may "look negative",
+                    # while the same crc on a 64-bit box may "look positive".
+                    # To avoid irksome warnings from the `struct` module, force
+                    # it to look positive on all boxes.
+                    self.fileobj.write(struct.pack("<L", self.crc & 0xffffffff))
+                    self.fileobj.write(struct.pack("<L", self.pos & 0xffffFFFF))
+        finally:
+            if not self._extfileobj:
+                self.fileobj.close()
 
     def _init_read_gz(self):
         """Initialize for reading a gzip compressed fileobj.
@@ -1714,18 +1714,19 @@ class TarFile(object):
         if self.closed:
             return
 
-        if self.mode in "aw":
-            self.fileobj.write(NUL * (BLOCKSIZE * 2))
-            self.offset += (BLOCKSIZE * 2)
-            # fill up the end with zero-blocks
-            # (like option -b20 for tar does)
-            blocks, remainder = divmod(self.offset, RECORDSIZE)
-            if remainder > 0:
-                self.fileobj.write(NUL * (RECORDSIZE - remainder))
-
-        if not self._extfileobj:
-            self.fileobj.close()
         self.closed = True
+        try:
+            if self.mode in "aw":
+                self.fileobj.write(NUL * (BLOCKSIZE * 2))
+                self.offset += (BLOCKSIZE * 2)
+                # fill up the end with zero-blocks
+                # (like option -b20 for tar does)
+                blocks, remainder = divmod(self.offset, RECORDSIZE)
+                if remainder > 0:
+                    self.fileobj.write(NUL * (RECORDSIZE - remainder))
+        finally:
+            if not self._extfileobj:
+                self.fileobj.close()
 
     def getmember(self, name):
         """Return a TarInfo object for member `name'. If `name' can not be
diff --git a/Lib/telnetlib.py b/Lib/telnetlib.py
index eebb9529027..72dabc76e0c 100644
--- a/Lib/telnetlib.py
+++ b/Lib/telnetlib.py
@@ -261,12 +261,13 @@ class Telnet:
 
     def close(self):
         """Close the connection."""
-        if self.sock:
-            self.sock.close()
-        self.sock = 0
-        self.eof = 1
+        sock = self.sock
+        self.sock = None
+        self.eof = True
         self.iacseq = b''
         self.sb = 0
+        if sock:
+            sock.close()
 
     def get_socket(self):
         """Return the socket object used internally."""
diff --git a/Lib/tempfile.py b/Lib/tempfile.py
index 4543d3f6911..81c289ad6fc 100644
--- a/Lib/tempfile.py
+++ b/Lib/tempfile.py
@@ -357,9 +357,11 @@ class _TemporaryFileCloser:
         def close(self, unlink=_os.unlink):
             if not self.close_called and self.file is not None:
                 self.close_called = True
-                self.file.close()
-                if self.delete:
-                    unlink(self.name)
+                try:
+                    self.file.close()
+                finally:
+                    if self.delete:
+                        unlink(self.name)
 
         # Need to ensure the file is deleted on __del__
         def __del__(self):
diff --git a/Lib/urllib/response.py b/Lib/urllib/response.py
index 4a143b03e67..4778118dbb1 100644
--- a/Lib/urllib/response.py
+++ b/Lib/urllib/response.py
@@ -43,11 +43,15 @@ class addclosehook(addbase):
         self.hookargs = hookargs
 
     def close(self):
-        if self.closehook:
-            self.closehook(*self.hookargs)
-            self.closehook = None
-            self.hookargs = None
-        super(addclosehook, self).close()
+        try:
+            closehook = self.closehook
+            hookargs = self.hookargs
+            if closehook:
+                self.closehook = None
+                self.hookargs = None
+                closehook(*hookargs)
+        finally:
+            super(addclosehook, self).close()
 
 
 class addinfo(addbase):
diff --git a/Lib/wave.py b/Lib/wave.py
index b56395ead70..8fba70f02e3 100644
--- a/Lib/wave.py
+++ b/Lib/wave.py
@@ -186,10 +186,11 @@ class Wave_read:
         self._soundpos = 0
 
     def close(self):
-        if self._i_opened_the_file:
-            self._i_opened_the_file.close()
-            self._i_opened_the_file = None
         self._file = None
+        file = self._i_opened_the_file
+        if file:
+            self._i_opened_the_file = None
+            file.close()
 
     def tell(self):
         return self._soundpos
@@ -428,17 +429,18 @@ class Wave_write:
             self._patchheader()
 
     def close(self):
-        if self._file:
-            try:
+        try:
+            if self._file:
                 self._ensure_header_written(0)
                 if self._datalength != self._datawritten:
                     self._patchheader()
                 self._file.flush()
-            finally:
-                self._file = None
-        if self._i_opened_the_file:
-            self._i_opened_the_file.close()
-            self._i_opened_the_file = None
+        finally:
+            self._file = None
+            file = self._i_opened_the_file
+            if file:
+                self._i_opened_the_file = None
+                file.close()
 
     #
     # Internal methods.
diff --git a/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py b/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py
index 65ac7e30434..1795b23af60 100644
--- a/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py
+++ b/Lib/xml/sax/expatreader.py
@@ -211,22 +211,24 @@ class ExpatParser(xmlreader.IncrementalParser, xmlreader.Locator):
             self._err_handler.fatalError(exc)
 
     def close(self):
-        if self._entity_stack:
+        if self._entity_stack or self._parser is None:
             # If we are completing an external entity, do nothing here
             return
-        self.feed("", isFinal = 1)
-        self._cont_handler.endDocument()
-        self._parsing = 0
-        # break cycle created by expat handlers pointing to our methods
-        self._parser = None
         try:
-            file = self._source.getCharacterStream()
-            if file is not None:
-                file.close()
+            self.feed("", isFinal = 1)
+            self._cont_handler.endDocument()
         finally:
-            file = self._source.getByteStream()
-            if file is not None:
-                file.close()
+            self._parsing = 0
+            # break cycle created by expat handlers pointing to our methods
+            self._parser = None
+            try:
+                file = self._source.getCharacterStream()
+                if file is not None:
+                    file.close()
+            finally:
+                file = self._source.getByteStream()
+                if file is not None:
+                    file.close()
 
     def _reset_cont_handler(self):
         self._parser.ProcessingInstructionHandler = \
diff --git a/Lib/xmlrpc/client.py b/Lib/xmlrpc/client.py
index da089a2f039..acb81421500 100644
--- a/Lib/xmlrpc/client.py
+++ b/Lib/xmlrpc/client.py
@@ -438,8 +438,13 @@ class ExpatParser:
         self._parser.Parse(data, 0)
 
     def close(self):
-        self._parser.Parse("", 1) # end of data
-        del self._target, self._parser # get rid of circular references
+        try:
+            parser = self._parser
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        else:
+            del self._target, self._parser # get rid of circular references
+            parser.Parse(b"", True) # end of data
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # XML-RPC marshalling and unmarshalling code
@@ -1065,8 +1070,10 @@ class GzipDecodedResponse(gzip.GzipFile if gzip else object):
         gzip.GzipFile.__init__(self, mode="rb", fileobj=self.io)
 
     def close(self):
-        gzip.GzipFile.close(self)
-        self.io.close()
+        try:
+            gzip.GzipFile.close(self)
+        finally:
+            self.io.close()
 
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1221,9 +1228,10 @@ class Transport:
     # Used in the event of socket errors.
     #
     def close(self):
-        if self._connection[1]:
-            self._connection[1].close()
+        host, connection = self._connection
+        if connection:
             self._connection = (None, None)
+            connection.close()
 
     ##
     # Send HTTP request.
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index b62e72aeea5..7f913494cfc 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ Core and Builtins
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #23865: close() methods in multiple modules now are idempotent and more
+  robust at shutdown. If needs to release multiple resources, they are released
+  even if errors are occured.
+
 - Issue #23400: Raise same exception on both Python 2 and 3 if sem_open is not
   available.  Patch by Davin Potts.