diff --git a/apps/app_dictate.c b/apps/app_dictate.c
index 91a1650eac..c54457360d 100644
--- a/apps/app_dictate.c
+++ b/apps/app_dictate.c
@@ -257,7 +257,8 @@ static int dictate_exec(struct ast_channel *chan, void *data)
 						if (lastop != DFLAG_PLAY) {
 							lastop = DFLAG_PLAY;
 							ast_closestream(fs);
-							fs = ast_openstream(chan, path, chan->language);
+							if (!(fs = ast_openstream(chan, path, chan->language)))
+								break;
 							ast_seekstream(fs, samples, SEEK_SET);
 							chan->stream = NULL;
 						}