diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/facts.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/facts.py
index c5dc1f9ac8..3cb66a83e8 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/facts.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/facts.py
@@ -2981,17 +2981,19 @@ def get_file_content(path, default=None, strip=True):
     data = default
     if os.path.exists(path) and os.access(path, os.R_OK):
         try:
-            datafile = open(path)
-            data = datafile.read()
-            if strip:
-                data = data.strip()
-            if len(data) == 0:
-                data = default
+            try:
+                datafile = open(path)
+                data = datafile.read()
+                if strip:
+                    data = data.strip()
+                if len(data) == 0:
+                    data = default
+            finally:
+                datafile.close()
         except:
-            # todo: issue warning about unreadable file?
+            # ignore errors as some jails/containers might have readable permissions but not allow reads to proc
+            # done in 2 blocks for 2.4 compat
             pass
-        finally:
-            datafile.close()
     return data
 
 def get_file_lines(path):