diff --git a/ext/gio/gstgiobasesink.c b/ext/gio/gstgiobasesink.c
index 39d76cd37b..6a878717a1 100644
--- a/ext/gio/gstgiobasesink.c
+++ b/ext/gio/gstgiobasesink.c
@@ -119,6 +119,10 @@ gst_gio_base_sink_start (GstBaseSink * base_sink)
     GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (sink, RESOURCE, OPEN_WRITE, (NULL),
         ("No output stream provided by subclass"));
     return FALSE;
+  } else if (G_UNLIKELY (g_output_stream_is_closed (sink->stream))) {
+    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (sink, LIBRARY, FAILED, (NULL),
+        ("Output stream is already closed"));
+    return FALSE;
   }
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (sink, "started sink");
diff --git a/ext/gio/gstgiobasesrc.c b/ext/gio/gstgiobasesrc.c
index 6ef4190949..cfeab575b8 100644
--- a/ext/gio/gstgiobasesrc.c
+++ b/ext/gio/gstgiobasesrc.c
@@ -130,6 +130,10 @@ gst_gio_base_src_start (GstBaseSrc * base_src)
     GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (src, RESOURCE, OPEN_READ, (NULL),
         ("No input stream provided by subclass"));
     return FALSE;
+  } else if (G_UNLIKELY (g_input_stream_is_closed (src->stream))) {
+    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (src, LIBRARY, FAILED, (NULL),
+        ("Input stream is already closed"));
+    return FALSE;
   }
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (src, "started source");