diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/va/gstvah264enc.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/va/gstvah264enc.c
index 6f20ed2a1b..8c4e8647d1 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/va/gstvah264enc.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/va/gstvah264enc.c
@@ -4109,9 +4109,9 @@ gst_va_h264_enc_get_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
     case PROP_DEVICE_PATH:{
       if (!(self->display && GST_IS_VA_DISPLAY_DRM (self->display))) {
         g_value_set_string (value, NULL);
-        return;
+      } else {
+        g_object_get_property (G_OBJECT (self->display), "path", value);
       }
-      g_object_get_property (G_OBJECT (self->display), "path", value);
       break;
     }
     default: