diff --git a/obexd/plugins/pbap.c b/obexd/plugins/pbap.c
index cec5acd..f2f9166 100644
--- a/obexd/plugins/pbap.c
+++ b/obexd/plugins/pbap.c
@@ -728,6 +728,11 @@ static void *vobject_list_open(const char *name, int oflag, mode_t mode,
 	int ret;
 	void *request;
 
+	if (name == NULL) {
+		ret = -EBADR;
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
 	DBG("name %s context %p valid %d", name, context, pbap->cache.valid);
 
 	if (oflag != O_RDONLY) {
@@ -735,11 +740,6 @@ static void *vobject_list_open(const char *name, int oflag, mode_t mode,
 		goto fail;
 	}
 
-	if (name == NULL) {
-		ret = -EBADR;
-		goto fail;
-	}
-
 	/* PullvCardListing always get the contacts from the cache */
 
 	if (pbap->cache.valid) {