diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/srt/gstsrtsink.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/srt/gstsrtsink.c
index a2ab8863ef..b2277a1314 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/srt/gstsrtsink.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/srt/gstsrtsink.c
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ gst_srt_sink_start (GstBaseSink * bsink)
   if (!ret) {
     /* ensure error is posted since state change will fail */
     GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (self, RESOURCE, OPEN_WRITE, (NULL),
-        ("Failed to open SRT: %s", error->message));
+        ("Failed to open SRT: %s", error ? error->message : "Unknown error"));
     g_clear_error (&error);
   }