diff --git a/drivers/media/rc/lirc_dev.c b/drivers/media/rc/lirc_dev.c
index e0e2297f13d1..0030ce01babc 100644
--- a/drivers/media/rc/lirc_dev.c
+++ b/drivers/media/rc/lirc_dev.c
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ int lirc_dev_fop_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 		if (retval) {
 			module_put(cdev->owner);
 			ir->open--;
-		} else {
+		} else if (ir->buf) {
 			lirc_buffer_clear(ir->buf);
 		}
 		if (ir->task)