diff --git a/audio/out/ao.c b/audio/out/ao.c
index c7065f386a..1593769716 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao.c
@@ -499,6 +499,8 @@ bool ao_hotplug_check_update(struct ao_hotplug *hp)
 
 const char *ao_hotplug_get_detected_device(struct ao_hotplug *hp)
 {
+    if (!hp || !hp->ao)
+        return NULL;
     return hp->ao->detected_device;
 }