diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/content/filestore/FileContentReader.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/content/filestore/FileContentReader.java
index 2ae51af1df..74c15ffdf6 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/content/filestore/FileContentReader.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/content/filestore/FileContentReader.java
@@ -210,7 +210,6 @@ public class FileContentReader extends AbstractContentReader
     @Override
     protected ReadableByteChannel getDirectReadableChannel() throws ContentIOException
     {
-        RandomAccessFile randomAccessFile = null;
         try
         {
             // the file must exist
@@ -222,7 +221,7 @@ public class FileContentReader extends AbstractContentReader
             ReadableByteChannel channel = null;
             if (allowRandomAccess)
             {
-                randomAccessFile = new RandomAccessFile(file, "r");  // won't create it
+                RandomAccessFile randomAccessFile = new RandomAccessFile(file, "r");  // won't create it
                 channel = randomAccessFile.getChannel();
             }
             else
@@ -243,20 +242,6 @@ public class FileContentReader extends AbstractContentReader
         {
             throw new ContentIOException("Failed to open file channel: " + this, e);
         }
-        finally
-        {
-            if (randomAccessFile != null)
-            {
-                try
-                {
-                    randomAccessFile.close();
-                }
-                catch (IOException e)
-                {
-                    logger.error("Problem while closing file.", e);
-                }
-            }
-        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/content/filestore/FileContentWriter.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/content/filestore/FileContentWriter.java
index e015e400c7..6ff2a59f22 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/content/filestore/FileContentWriter.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/content/filestore/FileContentWriter.java
@@ -139,7 +139,6 @@ public class FileContentWriter extends AbstractContentWriter
     @Override
     protected WritableByteChannel getDirectWritableChannel() throws ContentIOException
     {
-        RandomAccessFile randomAccessFile = null;
         try
         {
             // we may not write to an existing file - EVER!!
@@ -151,7 +150,7 @@ public class FileContentWriter extends AbstractContentWriter
             WritableByteChannel channel = null;
             if (allowRandomAccess)
             {
-                randomAccessFile = new RandomAccessFile(file, "rw");  // will create it
+                RandomAccessFile randomAccessFile = new RandomAccessFile(file, "rw");  // will create it
                 channel = randomAccessFile.getChannel();
             }
             else
@@ -172,20 +171,6 @@ public class FileContentWriter extends AbstractContentWriter
         {
             throw new ContentIOException("Failed to open file channel: " + this, e);
         }
-        finally
-        {
-            if (randomAccessFile != null)
-            {
-                try
-                {
-                    randomAccessFile.close();
-                }
-                catch (IOException e)
-                {
-                    logger.error("Problem while closing file.", e);
-                }
-            }
-        }
     }
 
     /**