《资治通鉴·隋纪·隋纪一》
隋朝平定陈后，司马消难也被押送到长安，隋文帝特下令免除一死，将他发配为身份低下的乐户，二十天后，又下令免除了他的乐户身份，并且还由于过去的交情接见过他，不久司马消难就在家中去世了。
及平陈，消难至，特免死，配为乐户，二旬而免，犹以旧恩引见；寻卒于家。
After the Sui court pacified Chen, Sima Xiaonan was also escorted to Chang'an, and Sui Wendi specifically ordered that he not be executed, but rather that he be banished to be a low-ranking musician. Twenty days later, he again ordered that Sima Xiaonan be freed from his musician status, and, moreover, that he be received in the palace because of their old friendship. Soon after, Sima Xiaonan passed away at home.