diff --git a/awx/main/tasks.py b/awx/main/tasks.py
index 3aeaadd786..0de7094100 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks.py
@@ -993,9 +993,10 @@ class BaseTask(LogErrorsTask):
                     logger.exception('%s Exception occurred while running task', instance.log_format)
         finally:
             try:
-                stdout_handle.flush()
-                stdout_handle.close()
-                event_ct = getattr(stdout_handle, '_event_ct', 0)
+                if stdout_handle:
+                    stdout_handle.flush()
+                    stdout_handle.close()
+                    event_ct = getattr(stdout_handle, '_event_ct', 0)
                 logger.info('%s finished running, producing %s events.',
                             instance.log_format, event_ct)
             except Exception: