diff --git a/src/modules/module-combine.c b/src/modules/module-combine.c
index aec774ee5..1343b70d5 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-combine.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-combine.c
@@ -261,6 +261,10 @@ static void process_render_null(struct userdata *u, pa_usec_t now) {
     size_t ate = 0;
     pa_assert(u);
 
+    /* If we are not running, we cannot produce any data */
+    if (!pa_atomic_load(&u->thread_info.running))
+        return;
+
     if (u->thread_info.in_null_mode)
         u->thread_info.timestamp = now;