diff --git a/audio/out/ao_pipewire.c b/audio/out/ao_pipewire.c
index 2563ddda30..f755c7bf4d 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_pipewire.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_pipewire.c
@@ -390,9 +390,10 @@ static int pipewire_init_boilerplate(struct ao *ao)
 
 
     p->loop = pw_thread_loop_new("ao-pipewire", NULL);
-    pw_thread_loop_lock(p->loop);
     if (p->loop == NULL)
-        goto error;
+        return -1;
+
+    pw_thread_loop_lock(p->loop);
 
     if (pw_thread_loop_start(p->loop) < 0)
         goto error;