diff --git a/sound/core/pcm_native.c b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
index f1eca01c42a9..0ad194002c0c 100644
--- a/sound/core/pcm_native.c
+++ b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
@@ -2225,7 +2225,8 @@ 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)