diff --git a/src/midi/fluid_midi.c b/src/midi/fluid_midi.c
index eb3d7e57..fb71a822 100644
--- a/src/midi/fluid_midi.c
+++ b/src/midi/fluid_midi.c
@@ -92,24 +92,23 @@ static int fluid_midi_file_get_division(fluid_midi_file *midifile);
  */
 int fluid_is_midifile(const char *filename)
 {
-    FILE    *fp = FLUID_FOPEN(filename, "rb");
+    FILE    *fp;
     uint32_t id;
     int      retcode = FALSE;
 
     do
     {
-        if(fp == NULL)
+        if(!fluid_file_test(filename, G_FILE_TEST_IS_REGULAR))
         {
             return retcode;
         }
         
-        // file exists and we have permission to open it
-        // now, test whether it's acutally a regular file or a symlink to such
-        if(!fluid_file_test(filename, G_FILE_TEST_IS_REGULAR))
+        // file seems to exist and is a regular file or a symlink to such
+        if((fp = FLUID_FOPEN(filename, "rb")) == NULL)
         {
-            break;
+            return retcode;
         }
-
+        
         if(FLUID_FREAD(&id, sizeof(id), 1, fp) != 1)
         {
             break;
diff --git a/src/sfloader/fluid_sffile.c b/src/sfloader/fluid_sffile.c
index 99da1a9a..b5a641b6 100644
--- a/src/sfloader/fluid_sffile.c
+++ b/src/sfloader/fluid_sffile.c
@@ -334,24 +334,23 @@ static int fluid_sffile_read_wav(SFData *sf, unsigned int start, unsigned int en
  */
 int fluid_is_soundfont(const char *filename)
 {
-    FILE    *fp = FLUID_FOPEN(filename, "rb");
+    FILE    *fp;
     uint32_t fcc;
     int      retcode = FALSE;
 
     do
     {
-        if(fp == NULL)
+        if(!fluid_file_test(filename, G_FILE_TEST_IS_REGULAR))
         {
             return retcode;
         }
         
-        // file exists and we have permission to open it
-        // now, test whether it's acutally a regular file or a symlink to such
-        if(!fluid_file_test(filename, G_FILE_TEST_IS_REGULAR))
+        // file seems to exist and is a regular file or a symlink to such
+        if((fp = FLUID_FOPEN(filename, "rb")) == NULL)
         {
-            break;
+            return retcode;
         }
-
+        
         if(FLUID_FREAD(&fcc, sizeof(fcc), 1, fp) != 1)
         {
             break;
diff --git a/src/sfloader/fluid_sfont.c b/src/sfloader/fluid_sfont.c
index 8de6ce07..d0ce264d 100644
--- a/src/sfloader/fluid_sfont.c
+++ b/src/sfloader/fluid_sfont.c
@@ -24,21 +24,26 @@
 
 void *default_fopen(const char *path)
 {
-    FILE* handle = FLUID_FOPEN(path, "rb");
+    FILE* handle;
     
-    if(handle == NULL)
+    if(!fluid_file_test(path, G_FILE_TEST_EXISTS))
     {
-        FLUID_LOG(FLUID_ERR, "fluid_sfloader_load(): Specified file does not exists or insufficient permissions to open it! ('%s')", path);
+        FLUID_LOG(FLUID_ERR, "fluid_sfloader_load(): Unable to load non-existent file. ('%s')", path);
         return NULL;
     }
     
     if(!fluid_file_test(path, G_FILE_TEST_IS_REGULAR))
     {
-        FLUID_FCLOSE(handle);
         FLUID_LOG(FLUID_ERR, "fluid_sfloader_load(): Refusing to load non-regular file! ('%s')", path);
         return NULL;
     }
     
+    if((handle = FLUID_FOPEN(path, "rb")) == NULL)
+    {
+        FLUID_LOG(FLUID_ERR, "fluid_sfloader_load(): Specified file does not exists or insufficient permissions to open it! ('%s')", path);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    
     return handle;
 }