diff --git a/lib/net/http/response.rb b/lib/net/http/response.rb
index fb48490..3d5ad0b 100644
--- a/lib/net/http/response.rb
+++ b/lib/net/http/response.rb
@@ -596,6 +596,8 @@ def inflater # :nodoc:
         rescue => err
           # Ignore #finish's error if there is an exception from yield
           raise err if success
+        ensure
+          inflate_body_io.close
         end
       end
     when 'none', 'identity' then
@@ -694,6 +696,13 @@ def finish
       @inflate.finish
     end
 
+    ##
+    # Closes the inflate stream and releases its resources.
+
+    def close
+      @inflate.close
+    end
+
     ##
     # The number of bytes inflated, used to update the Content-Length of
     # the response.