diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4proc.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4proc.c
index d0848fc6529e..4a8314f08a0e 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4proc.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4proc.c
@@ -1071,6 +1071,8 @@ nfsd4_seek(struct svc_rqst *rqstp, struct nfsd4_compound_state *cstate,
 		dprintk("NFSD: nfsd4_seek: couldn't process stateid!\n");
 		return status;
 	}
+	if (!file)
+		return nfserr_bad_stateid;
 
 	switch (seek->seek_whence) {
 	case NFS4_CONTENT_DATA: