diff --git a/Experimental/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/experimental/autoingest/AutoIngestManager.java b/Experimental/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/experimental/autoingest/AutoIngestManager.java
index d4f789a861..d87a943a2f 100644
--- a/Experimental/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/experimental/autoingest/AutoIngestManager.java
+++ b/Experimental/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/experimental/autoingest/AutoIngestManager.java
@@ -1947,6 +1947,9 @@ final class AutoIngestManager extends Observable implements PropertyChangeListen
                     processJob();
                 } finally {
                     manifestLock.release();
+                    
+                    // force garbage collection to release file handles
+                    System.gc();
                 }
                 if (jobProcessingTaskFuture.isCancelled()) {
                     return;