diff --git a/libs/ardour/import.cc b/libs/ardour/import.cc
index cd3ab08f7f..4fb85f8686 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/import.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/import.cc
@@ -405,6 +405,11 @@ write_midi_type0_data_to_one_file (Evoral::SMF* source, ImportStatus& status, si
 				continue;
 			}
 
+			if (ret == 0) {
+				/* set note id, but we ignored it */
+				continue;
+			}
+
 			if (size > bufsize) {
 				bufsize = size;
 			}