diff --git a/repos/gems/src/lib/vfs/cbe_trust_anchor/vfs.cc b/repos/gems/src/lib/vfs/cbe_trust_anchor/vfs.cc
index fb7f163787..8ae2ead4ef 100644
--- a/repos/gems/src/lib/vfs/cbe_trust_anchor/vfs.cc
+++ b/repos/gems/src/lib/vfs/cbe_trust_anchor/vfs.cc
@@ -544,6 +544,9 @@ class Trust_anchor
 
 		void _close_handle(Vfs::Vfs_handle **handle)
 		{
+			if (*handle == nullptr)
+				return;
+
 			(*handle)->close();
 			(*handle) = nullptr;
 		}