diff --git a/tools/releasetools/common.py b/tools/releasetools/common.py
index a236a12..ac1566b 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/common.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/common.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import getpass
 import imp
 import os
+import platform
 import re
 import sha
 import shutil
@@ -57,6 +58,22 @@
   return subprocess.Popen(args, **kwargs)
 
 
+def CloseInheritedPipes():
+  """ Gmake in MAC OS has file descriptor (PIPE) leak. We close those fds
+  before doing other work."""
+  if platform.system() != "Darwin":
+    return
+  for d in range(3, 1025):
+    try:
+      stat = os.fstat(d)
+      if stat is not None:
+        pipebit = stat[0] & 0x1000
+        if pipebit != 0:
+          os.close(d)
+    except OSError:
+      pass
+
+
 def LoadInfoDict(zip):
   """Read and parse the META/misc_info.txt key/value pairs from the
   input target files and return a dict."""