diff --git a/layers/+distribution/spacemacs-base/funcs.el b/layers/+distribution/spacemacs-base/funcs.el
index 9afee3dec..3b9adf9d8 100644
--- a/layers/+distribution/spacemacs-base/funcs.el
+++ b/layers/+distribution/spacemacs-base/funcs.el
@@ -329,12 +329,12 @@ argument takes the kindows rotate backwards."
 
 ;; check when opening large files - literal file open
 (defun spacemacs/check-large-file ()
-  (when (> (nth 7 (file-attributes (buffer-file-name)))
-           (* 1024 1024 dotspacemacs-large-file-size))
-    (when (y-or-n-p "This is a large file, open literally to avoid performance issues?")
-      (setq buffer-read-only t)
-      (buffer-disable-undo)
-      (fundamental-mode))))
+  (let ((size (nth 7 (file-attributes (buffer-file-name)))))
+    (when (and size (> size (* 1024 1024 dotspacemacs-large-file-size)))
+      (when (y-or-n-p "This is a large file, open literally to avoid performance issues?")
+        (setq buffer-read-only t)
+        (buffer-disable-undo)
+        (fundamental-mode)))))
 
 ;; found at http://emacswiki.org/emacs/KillingBuffers
 (defun spacemacs/kill-other-buffers ()