diff --git a/src/gst/gstpipewiredeviceprovider.c b/src/gst/gstpipewiredeviceprovider.c
index a9d8dd8b2..9f82507b3 100644
--- a/src/gst/gstpipewiredeviceprovider.c
+++ b/src/gst/gstpipewiredeviceprovider.c
@@ -665,11 +665,16 @@ gst_pipewire_device_provider_stop (GstDeviceProvider * provider)
 {
   GstPipeWireDeviceProvider *self = GST_PIPEWIRE_DEVICE_PROVIDER (provider);
 
-  pw_thread_loop_lock (self->core->loop);
+  /* core might be NULL if we failed to connect in _start. */
+  if (self->core != NULL) {
+    pw_thread_loop_lock (self->core->loop);
+  }
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (self, "stopping provider");
 
   g_clear_pointer ((struct pw_proxy**)&self->registry, pw_proxy_destroy);
-  pw_thread_loop_unlock (self->core->loop);
+  if (self->core != NULL) {
+    pw_thread_loop_unlock (self->core->loop);
+  }
   g_clear_pointer (&self->core, gst_pipewire_core_release);
 }