diff --git a/src/ObjWriting/Game/IW5/LightDef/LightDefDumperIW5.cpp b/src/ObjWriting/Game/IW5/LightDef/LightDefDumperIW5.cpp
index 0b61a8f4..3abd8e09 100644
--- a/src/ObjWriting/Game/IW5/LightDef/LightDefDumperIW5.cpp
+++ b/src/ObjWriting/Game/IW5/LightDef/LightDefDumperIW5.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ namespace light_def
     {
         const auto* lightDef = asset.Asset();
         const auto assetFile = context.OpenAssetFile(GetFileNameForAsset(asset.m_name));
-        auto& stream = *assetFile;
         if (!assetFile)
         {
             con::error("Could not open GfxLightDef file for dumping!");
@@ -25,6 +24,8 @@ namespace light_def
             return;
         }
 
+        auto& stream = *assetFile;
+
         const auto* attenuationImageName = lightDef->attenuation.image->name;
         if (attenuationImageName && attenuationImageName[0] == ',')
             attenuationImageName = &attenuationImageName[1];