diff --git a/file.c b/file.c
index ccd62a94..f0d622bc 100644
--- a/file.c
+++ b/file.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ file_fire_done_cb(__unused int fd, __unused short events, void *arg)
 	struct client_file	*cf = arg;
 	struct client		*c = cf->c;
 
-	if (cf->cb != NULL && (~c->flags & CLIENT_DEAD))
+	if (cf->cb != NULL && (c == NULL || (~c->flags & CLIENT_DEAD)))
 		cf->cb(c, cf->path, cf->error, 1, cf->buffer, cf->data);
 	file_free(cf);
 }