diff --git a/deepface/modules/preprocessing.py b/deepface/modules/preprocessing.py
index 5a6ebf5..28ff8e7 100644
--- a/deepface/modules/preprocessing.py
+++ b/deepface/modules/preprocessing.py
@@ -88,13 +88,12 @@ def load_base64(uri: str) -> np.ndarray:
     encoded_data = encoded_data_parts[1]
     decoded_bytes = base64.b64decode(encoded_data)
 
-    img = Image.open(io.BytesIO(decoded_bytes))
-    file_type = img.format.lower()
-
     # similar to find functionality, we are just considering these extensions
     # content type is safer option than file extension
-    if file_type not in ["jpeg", "png"]:
-        raise ValueError(f"input image can be jpg or png, but it is {file_type}")
+    with Image.open(io.BytesIO(decoded_bytes)) as img:
+        file_type = img.format.lower()
+        if file_type not in ["jpeg", "png"]:
+            raise ValueError(f"input image can be jpg or png, but it is {file_type}")
 
     nparr = np.fromstring(decoded_bytes, np.uint8)
     img_bgr = cv2.imdecode(nparr, cv2.IMREAD_COLOR)
diff --git a/deepface/modules/recognition.py b/deepface/modules/recognition.py
index 7d11abf..ccc850d 100644
--- a/deepface/modules/recognition.py
+++ b/deepface/modules/recognition.py
@@ -305,11 +305,9 @@ def __list_images(path: str) -> List[str]:
             if ext_lower not in {".jpg", ".jpeg", ".png"}:
                 continue
 
-            img = Image.open(exact_path)  # lazy
-
-            file_type = img.format.lower()
-            if file_type in ["jpeg", "png"]:
-                images.append(exact_path)
+            with Image.open(exact_path) as img:  # lazy
+                if img.format.lower() in ["jpeg", "png"]:
+                    images.append(exact_path)
     return images