diff --git a/src/w_wad.cpp b/src/w_wad.cpp
index e69d4b36d..3c68b1378 100644
--- a/src/w_wad.cpp
+++ b/src/w_wad.cpp
@@ -2535,12 +2535,12 @@ int W_VerifyNMUSlumps(const char *filename, FILE *handle, boolean exit_on_error)
 		&& stricmp(&filename[strlen(filename) - 4], ".lua"))
 		{
 			status = W_VerifyWAD(handle, NMUSlist, false);
-
-			// repair file handle in this specific case
-			fseek(handle, 0, SEEK_SET);
 		}
 	}
 
+	// repair file handle so we don't have to open a new one
+	fseek(handle, 0, SEEK_SET);
+
 	if (status == -1)
 		W_InitFileError(filename, exit_on_error);