diff --git a/src/pipewire/filter.c b/src/pipewire/filter.c
index 281b1e83d..7bacc7fb4 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/filter.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/filter.c
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ static int impl_port_use_buffers(void *object,
 						return res;
 					SPA_FLAG_SET(b->flags, BUFFER_FLAG_MAPPED);
 				}
-				else if (d->data == NULL) {
+				else if (d->type == SPA_DATA_MemPtr && d->data == NULL) {
 					pw_log_error(NAME" %p: invalid buffer mem", filter);
 					return -EINVAL;
 				}
diff --git a/src/pipewire/stream.c b/src/pipewire/stream.c
index 5da8dc765..cb87996b3 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/stream.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/stream.c
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ static int impl_port_use_buffers(void *object,
 						return res;
 					SPA_FLAG_SET(b->flags, BUFFER_FLAG_MAPPED);
 				}
-				else if (d->data == NULL) {
+				else if (d->type == SPA_DATA_MemPtr && d->data == NULL) {
 					pw_log_error(NAME" %p: invalid buffer mem", stream);
 					return -EINVAL;
 				}