diff --git a/ext/sndfile/gstsfdec.c b/ext/sndfile/gstsfdec.c
index c1026818e8..8271989f12 100644
--- a/ext/sndfile/gstsfdec.c
+++ b/ext/sndfile/gstsfdec.c
@@ -394,11 +394,9 @@ gst_sf_dec_stop (GstSFDec * self)
 {
   int err = 0;
 
-  g_return_val_if_fail (self->file != NULL, FALSE);
-
   GST_INFO_OBJECT (self, "Closing sndfile stream");
 
-  if ((err = sf_close (self->file)))
+  if (self->file && (err = sf_close (self->file)))
     goto close_failed;
 
   self->file = NULL;