diff --git a/src/shell-recorder.c b/src/shell-recorder.c
index 120ca0fe4..829ff32e3 100644
--- a/src/shell-recorder.c
+++ b/src/shell-recorder.c
@@ -526,6 +526,8 @@ recorder_record_frame (ShellRecorder *recorder)
   guint size;
   GstClockTime now;
 
+  g_return_if_fail (recorder->current_pipeline != NULL);
+
   /* If we get into the red zone, stop buffering new frames; 13/16 is
   * a bit more than the 3/4 threshold for a red indicator to keep the
   * indicator from flashing between red and yellow. */