diff --git a/src/pcm/pcm_softvol.c b/src/pcm/pcm_softvol.c
index 97894bb4..45dae534 100644
--- a/src/pcm/pcm_softvol.c
+++ b/src/pcm/pcm_softvol.c
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ int snd_pcm_softvol_open(snd_pcm_t **pcmp, const char *name,
 	if (err > 0) { /* hardware control - no need for softvol! */
 		softvol_free(svol);
 		*pcmp = slave; /* just pass the slave */
-		if (!slave->name)
+		if (!slave->name && name)
 			slave->name = strdup(name);
 		return 0;
 	}