diff --git a/spa/plugins/libcamera/libcamera-source.cpp b/spa/plugins/libcamera/libcamera-source.cpp
index d23b033f0..0d094bd57 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/libcamera/libcamera-source.cpp
+++ b/spa/plugins/libcamera/libcamera-source.cpp
@@ -211,7 +211,9 @@ int spa_libcamera_open(struct impl *impl)
 		return 0;
 
 	spa_log_info(impl->log, "open camera %s", impl->device_id.c_str());
-	impl->camera->acquire();
+
+	if (int res = impl->camera->acquire(); res < 0)
+		return res;
 
 	impl->allocator = new FrameBufferAllocator(impl->camera);