diff --git a/tools/gst-launch.c b/tools/gst-launch.c
index d24ffd1d81..a8ab1cdfa4 100644
--- a/tools/gst-launch.c
+++ b/tools/gst-launch.c
@@ -412,7 +412,8 @@ print_tag_foreach (const GstTagList * tags, const gchar * tag,
   gchar *str;
   gint depth = GPOINTER_TO_INT (user_data);
 
-  gst_tag_list_copy_value (&val, tags, tag);
+  if (!gst_tag_list_copy_value (&val, tags, tag))
+    return;
 
   if (G_VALUE_HOLDS_STRING (&val))
     str = g_value_dup_string (&val);