diff --git a/sys/vaapisink/gstvaapisink.c b/sys/vaapisink/gstvaapisink.c
index 8e1a4077f9..2c2fb395c7 100644
--- a/sys/vaapisink/gstvaapisink.c
+++ b/sys/vaapisink/gstvaapisink.c
@@ -116,8 +116,11 @@ gst_vaapisink_destroy(GstVaapiSink *sink)
 static inline gboolean
 gst_vaapisink_ensure_display(GstVaapiSink *sink)
 {
-    if (!sink->display)
+    if (!sink->display) {
         sink->display = gst_vaapi_display_x11_new(sink->display_name);
+        if (!sink->display || !gst_vaapi_display_get_display(sink->display))
+            return NULL;
+    }
     return sink->display != NULL;
 }