diff --git a/epubfile.py b/epubfile.py
index e4be293..ecaaa7b 100644
--- a/epubfile.py
+++ b/epubfile.py
@@ -617,11 +617,13 @@ class Epub:
     @writes
     def delete_file(self, id):
         manifest_item = self.opf.manifest.find('item', {'id': id})
+        filepath = self.get_filepath(id)
+
         manifest_item.extract()
         spine_item = self.opf.spine.find('itemref', {'idref': id})
         if spine_item:
             spine_item.extract()
-        os.remove(self.get_filepath(id).absolute_path)
+        os.remove(filepath.absolute_path)
 
     def get_filepath(self, id):
         href = self.opf.manifest.find('item', {'id': id})['href']