diff --git a/sound/core/pcm_native.c b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
index bdca0e10bebe07bd05957ee7df960da30238bd69..818dff1de545fad25669adf1144cbd49e5934067 100644
--- a/sound/core/pcm_native.c
+++ b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
@@ -2370,7 +2370,8 @@ int snd_pcm_hw_constraints_complete(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream)
 
 static void pcm_release_private(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream)
 {
-	snd_pcm_unlink(substream);
+	if (snd_pcm_stream_linked(substream))
+		snd_pcm_unlink(substream);
 }
 
 void snd_pcm_release_substream(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream)