diff --git a/components/bsa/bsa_file.cpp b/components/bsa/bsa_file.cpp
index 4dfaa8658d..129c2bf454 100644
--- a/components/bsa/bsa_file.cpp
+++ b/components/bsa/bsa_file.cpp
@@ -252,6 +252,9 @@ int BSAFile::getIndex(const char *str) const
 /// Open an archive file.
 void BSAFile::open(const std::string &file)
 {
+    if (mIsLoaded)
+        close();
+
     mFilename = file;
     if(boost::filesystem::exists(file))
         readHeader();
@@ -259,16 +262,20 @@ void BSAFile::open(const std::string &file)
     {
         { boost::filesystem::fstream(mFilename, std::ios::binary | std::ios::out); }
         writeHeader();
+        mIsLoaded = true;
     }
 }
 
 /// Close the archive, write the updated headers to the file
 void Bsa::BSAFile::close()
 {
-    if (!mHasChanged)
-        return;
+    if (mHasChanged)
+        writeHeader();
 
-    writeHeader();
+    mFiles.clear();
+    mStringBuf.clear();
+    mLookup.clear();
+    mIsLoaded = false;
 }
 
 Files::IStreamPtr BSAFile::getFile(const char *file)
@@ -290,6 +297,8 @@ Files::IStreamPtr BSAFile::getFile(const FileStruct *file)
 
 void Bsa::BSAFile::addFile(const std::string& filename, std::istream& file)
 {
+    if (!mIsLoaded)
+        fail("Unable to add file " + filename + " the archive is not opened");
     namespace bfs = boost::filesystem;
 
     auto newStartOfDataBuffer = 12 + (12 + 8) * (mFiles.size() + 1) + mStringBuf.size() + filename.size() + 1;