diff --git a/radicale/config.py b/radicale/config.py
index 1e02656..5076ffa 100644
--- a/radicale/config.py
+++ b/radicale/config.py
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ INITIAL_CONFIG = {
         "filesystem_folder": os.path.expanduser(
             "~/.config/radicale/collections"),
         "fsync": "True",
-        "hook": ""},
+        "hook": "",
+        "close_lock_file": "False"},
     "logging": {
         "config": "/etc/radicale/logging",
         "debug": "False",
diff --git a/radicale/storage.py b/radicale/storage.py
index 594dc06..9fabfb3 100644
--- a/radicale/storage.py
+++ b/radicale/storage.py
@@ -802,3 +802,7 @@ class Collection(BaseCollection):
                     cls._lock_file_locked = False
                 if cls._waiters:
                     cls._waiters[0].notify()
+                if (cls.configuration.getboolean("storage", "close_lock_file")
+                        and cls._readers == 0 and not cls._waiters):
+                    cls._lock_file.close()
+                    cls._lock_file = None
\ No newline at end of file