diff --git a/io_uring/msg_ring.c b/io_uring/msg_ring.c
index 4a7e5d030c78..90d2fc6fd80e 100644
--- a/io_uring/msg_ring.c
+++ b/io_uring/msg_ring.c
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ static int io_msg_send_fd(struct io_kiocb *req, unsigned int issue_flags)
 
 	msg->src_fd = array_index_nospec(msg->src_fd, ctx->nr_user_files);
 	file_ptr = io_fixed_file_slot(&ctx->file_table, msg->src_fd)->file_ptr;
+	if (!file_ptr)
+		goto out_unlock;
+
 	src_file = (struct file *) (file_ptr & FFS_MASK);
 	get_file(src_file);