diff --git a/plugins/elements/gstsparsefile.c b/plugins/elements/gstsparsefile.c
index fb9b26cfe2..b8a0577d81 100644
--- a/plugins/elements/gstsparsefile.c
+++ b/plugins/elements/gstsparsefile.c
@@ -343,13 +343,12 @@ gst_sparse_file_read (GstSparseFile * file, gsize offset, gpointer data,
         goto error;
     }
     res = fread (data, 1, count, file->file);
+    if (G_UNLIKELY (res < count))
+      goto error;
   }
 
   file->current_pos = offset + res;
 
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (res < count))
-    goto error;
-
   if (remaining)
     *remaining = range->stop - file->current_pos;