diff --git a/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/pulse-server.c b/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/pulse-server.c
index a5b384121..516b04237 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/pulse-server.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-protocol-pulse/pulse-server.c
@@ -4593,7 +4593,7 @@ static int do_set_stream_buffer_attr(struct client *client, uint32_t command, ui
 			commands[command].name, tag, channel);
 
 	stream = pw_map_lookup(&client->streams, channel);
-	if (stream == NULL)
+	if (stream == NULL || stream->create_tag != SPA_ID_INVALID)
 		return -ENOENT;
 
 	if (command == COMMAND_SET_PLAYBACK_STREAM_BUFFER_ATTR) {