diff --git a/simgear/sound/xmlsound.cxx b/simgear/sound/xmlsound.cxx
index 0c8c3fd9..218c3f68 100644
--- a/simgear/sound/xmlsound.cxx
+++ b/simgear/sound/xmlsound.cxx
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ SGXmlSound::SGXmlSound()
 
 SGXmlSound::~SGXmlSound()
 {
-    _sample->stop();
+    if (_sample)
+        _sample->stop();
 
     delete _condition;