diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_audio_import.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_audio_import.cc
index 18800ea676..1c3875dfe3 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_audio_import.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_audio_import.cc
@@ -649,6 +649,13 @@ Editor::embed_sndfiles (vector<string>            paths,
 			return -3;
 		}
 
+		if (!finfo.seekable) {
+			MessageDialog msg ( string_compose ( _("%1\nThis audiofile cannot be embedded. It must be imported!"), short_path (path, 40)), false, Gtk::MESSAGE_ERROR);
+			msg.set_position (WIN_POS_MOUSE);
+			msg.run ();
+			return -2;
+		}
+
 		if (check_sample_rate  && (finfo.samplerate != (int) _session->sample_rate())) {
 			vector<string> choices;
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc
index 4b8906397d..4b35bde51a 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc
@@ -1434,6 +1434,7 @@ SoundFileOmega::reset_options ()
 
 	bool same_size;
 	bool src_needed;
+	bool must_copy;
 	bool selection_includes_multichannel;
 	bool selection_can_be_embedded_with_links = check_link_status (_session, paths);
 	ImportMode mode;
@@ -1445,7 +1446,7 @@ SoundFileOmega::reset_options ()
 	}
 	bool const have_a_midi_file = (i != paths.end ());
 
-	if (check_info (paths, same_size, src_needed, selection_includes_multichannel)) {
+	if (check_info (paths, same_size, src_needed, selection_includes_multichannel, must_copy)) {
 		Glib::signal_idle().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &SoundFileOmega::bad_file_message));
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -1606,7 +1607,7 @@ SoundFileOmega::reset_options ()
 
 	/* We must copy MIDI files or those from Freesound
 	 * or any file if we are under nsm control */
-	bool const must_copy = _session->get_nsm_state() || have_a_midi_file || notebook.get_current_page() == 2;
+	must_copy |= _session->get_nsm_state() || have_a_midi_file || notebook.get_current_page() == 2;
 
 	if (UIConfiguration::instance().get_only_copy_imported_files()) {
 
@@ -1648,7 +1649,7 @@ SoundFileOmega::bad_file_message()
 }
 
 bool
-SoundFileOmega::check_info (const vector<string>& paths, bool& same_size, bool& src_needed, bool& multichannel)
+SoundFileOmega::check_info (const vector<string>& paths, bool& same_size, bool& src_needed, bool& multichannel, bool& must_copy)
 {
 	SoundFileInfo info;
 	samplepos_t sz = 0;
@@ -1658,6 +1659,7 @@ SoundFileOmega::check_info (const vector<string>& paths, bool& same_size, bool&
 	same_size = true;
 	src_needed = false;
 	multichannel = false;
+	must_copy = false;
 
 	for (vector<string>::const_iterator i = paths.begin(); i != paths.end(); ++i) {
 
@@ -1676,6 +1678,9 @@ SoundFileOmega::check_info (const vector<string>& paths, bool& same_size, bool&
 			if (info.samplerate != _session->sample_rate()) {
 				src_needed = true;
 			}
+			if (!info.seekable) {
+				must_copy = true;
+			}
 
 		} else if (SMFSource::valid_midi_file (*i)) {
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.h b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.h
index 55f3db968b..e7c75f2ce8 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.h
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ private:
 	Gtk::VBox block_four;
 
 	bool check_info (const std::vector<std::string>& paths,
-	                 bool& same_size, bool& src_needed, bool& multichannel);
+	                 bool& same_size, bool& src_needed, bool& multichannel, bool& must_copy);
 
 	static bool check_link_status (const ARDOUR::Session*, const std::vector<std::string>& paths);