diff --git a/src/compositor/meta-window-actor.c b/src/compositor/meta-window-actor.c
index de506aa39..83f6570c8 100644
--- a/src/compositor/meta-window-actor.c
+++ b/src/compositor/meta-window-actor.c
@@ -1076,6 +1076,9 @@ start_simple_effect (MetaWindowActor  *self,
   gint *counter = NULL;
   gboolean use_freeze_thaw = FALSE;
 
+  if (!compositor->plugin_mgr)
+    return FALSE;
+
   switch (event)
   {
   case META_PLUGIN_NONE: