diff --git a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-file.c b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-file.c
index e16a91e6b9..8ab553e726 100644
--- a/src/gnome-utils/gnc-file.c
+++ b/src/gnome-utils/gnc-file.c
@@ -839,7 +839,8 @@ gnc_file_open (void)
 
   lastfile = gnc_history_get_last();
   newfile = gnc_file_dialog (_("Open"), NULL, lastfile, GNC_FILE_DIALOG_OPEN);
-  g_free(lastfile);
+  if (lastfile)
+    g_free(lastfile);
   result = gnc_post_file_open (newfile);
 
   /* This dialogue can show up early in the startup process. If the