diff --git a/tests/check/elements/leaks.c b/tests/check/elements/leaks.c
index c457226087..767609b86c 100644
--- a/tests/check/elements/leaks.c
+++ b/tests/check/elements/leaks.c
@@ -334,6 +334,8 @@ GST_START_TEST (test_activity_start_stop)
   GstMessage *m;
   GstTracer *tracer = get_tracer_by_name ("plain");
 
+  fail_unless (tracer);
+
   g_signal_emit_by_name (tracer, "activity-start-tracking");
 
   pipe = gst_pipeline_new ("pipeline");
@@ -372,6 +374,8 @@ GST_START_TEST (test_activity_log_checkpoint)
   GstMessage *m;
   GstTracer *tracer = get_tracer_by_name ("plain");
 
+  fail_unless (tracer);
+
   g_signal_emit_by_name (tracer, "activity-start-tracking");
 
   pipe = gst_pipeline_new ("pipeline");
@@ -413,6 +417,8 @@ GST_START_TEST (test_activity_get_checkpoint)
   GstMessage *m;
   GstTracer *tracer = get_tracer_by_name ("more");
 
+  fail_unless (tracer);
+
   g_signal_emit_by_name (tracer, "activity-start-tracking");
 
   pipe = gst_pipeline_new ("pipeline");