diff --git a/src/emu/diimage.c b/src/emu/diimage.c
index fadf1d94c31..144c53d440f 100644
--- a/src/emu/diimage.c
+++ b/src/emu/diimage.c
@@ -999,7 +999,8 @@ void device_image_interface::clear()
 
 void device_image_interface::unload()
 {
-	if (is_loaded()) {
+	if (is_loaded() || m_software_info_ptr) 
+	{
 		call_unload();
 	}
     clear();