diff --git a/cmd/restic/exclude.go b/cmd/restic/exclude.go
index 0b800d32e..8d5585cfc 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/exclude.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/exclude.go
@@ -234,10 +234,6 @@ func rejectByDevice(samples []string) (RejectFunc, error) {
 	debug.Log("allowed devices: %v\n", allowed)
 
 	return func(item string, fi os.FileInfo) bool {
-		if fi == nil {
-			return false
-		}
-
 		item = filepath.Clean(item)
 
 		id, err := fs.DeviceID(fi)
@@ -301,10 +297,6 @@ func rejectBySize(maxSizeStr string) (RejectFunc, error) {
 	}
 
 	return func(item string, fi os.FileInfo) bool {
-		if fi == nil {
-			return false
-		}
-
 		// directory will be ignored
 		if fi.IsDir() {
 			return false
diff --git a/internal/archiver/archiver.go b/internal/archiver/archiver.go
index f4fe5f7db..04daad211 100644
--- a/internal/archiver/archiver.go
+++ b/internal/archiver/archiver.go
@@ -345,11 +345,6 @@ func (arch *Archiver) Save(ctx context.Context, snPath, target string, previous
 
 	// get file info and run remaining select functions that require file information
 	fi, err := arch.FS.Lstat(target)
-	if !arch.Select(abstarget, fi) {
-		debug.Log("%v is excluded", target)
-		return FutureNode{}, true, nil
-	}
-
 	if err != nil {
 		debug.Log("lstat() for %v returned error: %v", target, err)
 		err = arch.error(abstarget, fi, err)
@@ -358,6 +353,10 @@ func (arch *Archiver) Save(ctx context.Context, snPath, target string, previous
 		}
 		return FutureNode{}, true, nil
 	}
+	if !arch.Select(abstarget, fi) {
+		debug.Log("%v is excluded", target)
+		return FutureNode{}, true, nil
+	}
 
 	switch {
 	case fs.IsRegularFile(fi):