diff --git a/src/libcamera/pipeline/vimc/vimc.cpp b/src/libcamera/pipeline/vimc/vimc.cpp
index 9ebd723be171..8af0e92012e6 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/pipeline/vimc/vimc.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/pipeline/vimc/vimc.cpp
@@ -431,6 +431,7 @@ bool PipelineHandlerVimc::match(DeviceEnumerator *enumerator)
 		data->ipa_->init(IPASettings{ conf, data->sensor_->model() });
 	} else {
 		LOG(VIMC, Warning) << "no matching IPA found";
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	/* Create and register the camera. */