diff --git a/coreapi/linphonecore.c b/coreapi/linphonecore.c
index 3c3eb3598..1ed8b9428 100644
--- a/coreapi/linphonecore.c
+++ b/coreapi/linphonecore.c
@@ -3133,7 +3133,7 @@ void linphone_core_set_play_file(LinphoneCore *lc, const char *file){
 	}
 	if (file!=NULL) {
 		lc->play_file=ms_strdup(file);
-		if (lc->audiostream)
+		if (lc->audiostream->ticker)
 			audio_stream_play(lc->audiostream,file);
 	}
 }