diff --git a/libntfs/attrib.c b/libntfs/attrib.c
index 2f4d0197..e8289316 100644
--- a/libntfs/attrib.c
+++ b/libntfs/attrib.c
@@ -382,13 +382,14 @@ err_out:
  */
 void ntfs_attr_close(ntfs_attr *na)
 {
+	if (!na)
+		return;
 	if (NAttrNonResident(na) && na->rl)
 		free(na->rl);
 	/* Don't release if using an internal constant. */
 	if (na->name != AT_UNNAMED && na->name != I30)
 		free(na->name);
 	free(na);
-	return;
 }
 
 /**