diff --git a/ao-placed-player.rkt b/ao-placed-player.rkt
index bd431b0..3e918ef 100644
--- a/ao-placed-player.rkt
+++ b/ao-placed-player.rkt
@@ -45,10 +45,13 @@
 
   (define (close!)
     (when h
-      (log! "!!! ao-placed-player: close")
-      (ao-close h)
-      (set! h #f)))
-
+      (let ((old-h h))
+        (set! h #f)
+        (log! "closing ao handle")
+        (when (ao-valid? old-h)
+          (ao-close old-h))
+        (log! "ao handle closed"))))
+  
   (place-channel-put cmd-ch 'started)
 
   (let loop ()