diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/plugins/InstallPluginCommand.java b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/plugins/InstallPluginCommand.java
index f9300d87dc0..c0afcbbc118 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/plugins/InstallPluginCommand.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/plugins/InstallPluginCommand.java
@@ -235,6 +235,7 @@ class InstallPluginCommand extends CliTool.Command {
                 zipInput.closeEntry();
             }
         }
+        Files.delete(zip);
         return target;
     }