diff --git a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2sink.c b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2sink.c
index 679f7e2903..7dc1382933 100644
--- a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2sink.c
+++ b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2sink.c
@@ -461,7 +461,8 @@ gst_v4l2sink_change_state (GstElement * element, GstStateChange transition)
       }
       break;
     case GST_STATE_CHANGE_READY_TO_NULL:
-      gst_v4l2_buffer_pool_destroy (v4l2sink->pool);
+      if (NULL != v4l2sink->pool)
+        gst_v4l2_buffer_pool_destroy (v4l2sink->pool);
       v4l2sink->pool = NULL;
       /* close the device */
       if (!gst_v4l2_object_stop (v4l2sink->v4l2object))