diff --git a/libretro-common/streams/file_stream.c b/libretro-common/streams/file_stream.c
index d84c6d736e..82ae03db65 100644
--- a/libretro-common/streams/file_stream.c
+++ b/libretro-common/streams/file_stream.c
@@ -111,7 +111,11 @@ bool filestream_exists(const char *path)
    if (!dummy)
       return false;
 
-   filestream_close(dummy);
+   if (filestream_close(dummy) != 0)
+      if (dummy)
+         free(dummy);
+
+   dummy = NULL;
    return true;
 }