diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 196bf09..fbaf69e 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -164,10 +164,12 @@ class ZlibBase extends Minipass {
         // after each call, these handlers start piling up.
         this[_handle].removeAllListeners('error')
         // make sure OUR error listener is still attached tho
-        this[_handle].on('error', er => this[_onError](new ZlibError(er)))
       }
     }
 
+    if (this[_handle])
+      this[_handle].on('error', er => this[_onError](new ZlibError(er)))
+
     let writeReturn
     if (result) {
       if (Array.isArray(result) && result.length > 0) {