diff --git a/src/CommandSupport.go b/src/CommandSupport.go
index 6a26b08..d581586 100644
--- a/src/CommandSupport.go
+++ b/src/CommandSupport.go
@@ -140,10 +140,10 @@ func initCommandAllowList() {
 	if len(allowList) == 0 {
 		var allowListFile []string
 		commandAllowListFile, err := os.Open(commandAllowListLocation)
-		defer commandAllowListFile.Close()
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Println("[error] getAllowList error with COMMANDS_ALLOWLIST: " + commandAllowListLocation + " not found and will be ignored")
 		} else {
+			defer commandAllowListFile.Close()
 			byteValue, err := ioutil.ReadAll(commandAllowListFile)
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Println("[error] getAllowList error while reading COMMANDS_ALLOWLIST: " + commandAllowListLocation + " it will be ignored")