diff --git a/zathura.c b/zathura.c
index ebaf12d..c94d1f0 100644
--- a/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura.c
@@ -352,8 +352,9 @@ document_info_open(gpointer data)
       if (file == NULL) {
         girara_notify(document_info->zathura->ui.session, GIRARA_ERROR,
             "Could not read file from stdin and write it to a temporary file.");
+      } else {
+        document_info->zathura->stdin_support.file = g_strdup(file);
       }
-      document_info->zathura->stdin_support.file = file;
     } else {
       file = g_strdup(document_info->path);
     }