diff --git a/pcbnew/kicad_plugin.cpp b/pcbnew/kicad_plugin.cpp
index a40016419f..60cdc1a989 100644
--- a/pcbnew/kicad_plugin.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/kicad_plugin.cpp
@@ -222,16 +222,8 @@ void FP_CACHE::Load()
 
     do
     {
-        FILE* fp = wxFopen( fpFileName, wxT( "r" ) );
-
-        if( !fp )
-        {
-            THROW_IO_ERROR( wxString::Format( _( "cannot open footprint library file '%s'" ),
-                                              fpFileName.GetData() ) );
-        }
-
         // reader now owns fp, will close on exception or return
-        FILE_LINE_READER    reader( fp, fpFileName );
+        FILE_LINE_READER    reader( fpFileName );
 
         m_owner->m_parser->SetLineReader( &reader );
 
@@ -1551,15 +1543,7 @@ PCB_IO::~PCB_IO()
 
 BOARD* PCB_IO::Load( const wxString& aFileName, BOARD* aAppendToMe, PROPERTIES* aProperties )
 {
-    wxFFile file( aFileName, wxT("r") );
-
-    if( !file.IsOpened() )
-    {
-        wxString msg = wxString::Format( _( "Unable to read file \"%s\"" ), GetChars( aFileName ) );
-        THROW_IO_ERROR( msg );
-    }
-
-    FILE_LINE_READER    reader( file.fp(), aFileName, false /* wxFFile owns fp */ );
+    FILE_LINE_READER    reader( aFileName );
 
     m_parser->SetLineReader( &reader );
     m_parser->SetBoard( aAppendToMe );
diff --git a/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.cpp b/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.cpp
index 258579bd87..ca1407b456 100644
--- a/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.cpp
@@ -238,15 +238,7 @@ BOARD* LEGACY_PLUGIN::Load( const wxString& aFileName, BOARD* aAppendToMe, PROPE
     // delete on exception, iff I own m_board, according to aAppendToMe
     auto_ptr<BOARD> deleter( aAppendToMe ? NULL : m_board );
 
-    FILE* fp = wxFopen( aFileName, wxT( "r" ) );
-    if( !fp )
-    {
-        m_error.Printf( _( "Unable to open file '%s'" ), aFileName.GetData() );
-        THROW_IO_ERROR( m_error );
-    }
-
-    // reader now owns fp, will close on exception or return
-    FILE_LINE_READER    reader( fp, aFileName );
+    FILE_LINE_READER    reader( aFileName );
 
     m_reader = &reader;          // member function accessibility
 
@@ -3920,15 +3912,7 @@ wxDateTime FPL_CACHE::GetLibModificationTime()
 
 void FPL_CACHE::Load()
 {
-    FILE* fp = wxFopen( m_lib_name, wxT( "r" ) );
-    if( !fp )
-    {
-        THROW_IO_ERROR( wxString::Format(
-            _( "Unable to open legacy library file '%s'" ), m_lib_name.GetData() ) );
-    }
-
-    // reader now owns fp, will close on exception or return
-    FILE_LINE_READER    reader( fp, m_lib_name );
+    FILE_LINE_READER    reader( m_lib_name );
 
     ReadAndVerifyHeader( &reader );
     SkipIndex( &reader );
diff --git a/pcbnew/specctra.cpp b/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
index b7d598b9f2..398297f1b4 100644
--- a/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/specctra.cpp
@@ -230,14 +230,9 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::readTIME( time_t* time_stamp ) throw( IO_ERROR )
 
 void SPECCTRA_DB::LoadPCB( const wxString& filename ) throw( IO_ERROR )
 {
-    FILE*       fp = wxFopen( filename, wxT("r") );
+    FILE_LINE_READER    reader( filename );
 
-    if( !fp )
-    {
-        ThrowIOError( _("Unable to open file \"%s\""), GetChars(filename) );
-    }
-
-    PushReader( new FILE_LINE_READER( fp, filename ) );
+    PushReader( &reader );
 
     if( NextTok() != T_LEFT )
         Expecting( T_LEFT );
@@ -248,21 +243,15 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::LoadPCB( const wxString& filename ) throw( IO_ERROR )
     SetPCB( new PCB() );
 
     doPCB( pcb );
-
-    delete PopReader();     // close fp
+    PopReader();
 }
 
 
 void SPECCTRA_DB::LoadSESSION( const wxString& filename ) throw( IO_ERROR )
 {
-    FILE*       fp = wxFopen( filename, wxT("r") );
+    FILE_LINE_READER    reader( filename );
 
-    if( !fp )
-    {
-        ThrowIOError( _("Unable to open file \"%s\""), GetChars(filename) );
-    }
-
-    PushReader( new FILE_LINE_READER( fp, filename ) );
+    PushReader( &reader );
 
     if( NextTok() != T_LEFT )
         Expecting( T_LEFT );
@@ -274,7 +263,7 @@ void SPECCTRA_DB::LoadSESSION( const wxString& filename ) throw( IO_ERROR )
 
     doSESSION( session );
 
-    delete PopReader();      // close fp
+    PopReader();
 }