A mechanism is provided for automatically closing a file or a device. A service routine monitor monitors a request received from either an application that opened the file or a device driver that readied the device. The service routine monitor determines whether the file or the device has been accessed within a predetermined time interval. Responsive to the file or the device failing to be accessed within the predetermined time interval, the service routine monitor sends a call to the application that opened the file or the application or a higher level device driver that requested that the device driver ready the device. Responsive to a response from the application or the higher level device driver indicating that the use of the file or the device is no longer needed, the service routine monitor closes the file or quiesces the device.