diff --git a/screencast/pipewirestream.cpp b/screencast/pipewirestream.cpp
index 44f92c5eda..2cae16e2e2 100644
--- a/screencast/pipewirestream.cpp
+++ b/screencast/pipewirestream.cpp
@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@ bool PipeWireStream::createStream()
     if (pw_stream_connect(pwStream, PW_DIRECTION_OUTPUT, SPA_ID_INVALID, flags, &param, 1) != 0) {
         qCWarning(KWIN_SCREENCAST) << "Could not connect to stream";
         pw_stream_destroy(pwStream);
+        pwStream = nullptr;
         return false;
     }