diff --git a/lib_dec/lib_dec.c b/lib_dec/lib_dec.c
index dd72aaa1b167a1bfbbb683af15331ce92ee14550..6226beca29772f5d7dc6acbcc827e95244e581d3 100644
--- a/lib_dec/lib_dec.c
+++ b/lib_dec/lib_dec.c
@@ -352,11 +352,11 @@ void IVAS_DEC_Close(
         ( *phIvasDec )->hVoIP = NULL;
     }
 
-    /* destroy Split binaural renderer (ISAR) handle */
-    ivas_destroy_handle_isar( &( *phIvasDec )->st_ivas->hSplitBinRend );
-
     if ( ( *phIvasDec )->st_ivas )
     {
+        /* destroy Split binaural renderer (ISAR) handle */
+        ivas_destroy_handle_isar( &( *phIvasDec )->st_ivas->hSplitBinRend );
+
         ivas_destroy_dec( ( *phIvasDec )->st_ivas );
         ( *phIvasDec )->st_ivas = NULL;
     }
@@ -5361,10 +5361,10 @@ static void ivas_destroy_handle_isar(
         {
             free( ( *hSplitBinRend )->hCldfbDataOut );
             ( *hSplitBinRend )->hCldfbDataOut = NULL;
-
-            free( ( *hSplitBinRend ) );
-            ( *hSplitBinRend ) = NULL;
         }
+
+        free( ( *hSplitBinRend ) );
+        ( *hSplitBinRend ) = NULL;
     }
 
     return;