diff --git a/sharkd_session.c b/sharkd_session.c
index ffb7bcdc45..0a81b69c2e 100644
--- a/sharkd_session.c
+++ b/sharkd_session.c
@@ -541,11 +541,11 @@ sharkd_session_process_load(const char *buf, const jsmntok_t *tokens, int count)
 	const char *tok_file = json_find_attr(buf, tokens, count, "file");
 	int err = 0;
 
-	fprintf(stderr, "load: filename=%s\n", tok_file);
-
 	if (!tok_file)
 		return;
 
+	fprintf(stderr, "load: filename=%s\n", tok_file);
+
 	if (sharkd_cf_open(tok_file, WTAP_TYPE_AUTO, FALSE, &err) != CF_OK)
 	{
 		sharkd_json_simple_reply(err, NULL);