diff --git a/libmpdemux/demux_lavf.c b/libmpdemux/demux_lavf.c
index b4f7bf9378..9b3e81fe0e 100644
--- a/libmpdemux/demux_lavf.c
+++ b/libmpdemux/demux_lavf.c
@@ -138,7 +138,10 @@ int demux_open_lavf(demuxer_t *demuxer){
 
     register_protocol(&mp_protocol);
 
-    strncpy(mp_filename + 3, demuxer->stream->url, sizeof(mp_filename)-3);
+    if(demuxer->stream->url)
+        strncpy(mp_filename + 3, demuxer->stream->url, sizeof(mp_filename)-3);
+    else
+        strncpy(mp_filename + 3, "foobar.dummy", sizeof(mp_filename)-3);
     
     url_fopen(&priv->pb, mp_filename, URL_RDONLY);