diff --git a/pipewire-pulseaudio/src/stream.c b/pipewire-pulseaudio/src/stream.c
index 00c08dcae..9ac81c1fa 100644
--- a/pipewire-pulseaudio/src/stream.c
+++ b/pipewire-pulseaudio/src/stream.c
@@ -807,8 +807,9 @@ uint32_t pa_stream_get_index(PA_CONST pa_stream *s)
 
 	spa_assert(s);
 	spa_assert(s->refcount >= 1);
+	PA_CHECK_VALIDITY_RETURN_ANY(s->context, s->state == PA_STREAM_READY, PA_ERR_BADSTATE, PA_INVALID_INDEX);
 
-	idx = pw_stream_get_node_id(s->stream);
+	idx = s->stream ? pw_stream_get_node_id(s->stream) : PA_INVALID_INDEX;
 	pw_log_debug("stream %p: index %u", s, idx);
 	return idx;
 }