diff --git a/include/libcamera/internal/v4l2_videodevice.h b/include/libcamera/internal/v4l2_videodevice.h
index 2d2ccc477c91..32e022543385 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/internal/v4l2_videodevice.h
+++ b/include/libcamera/internal/v4l2_videodevice.h
@@ -258,7 +258,8 @@ private:
 
 	EventNotifier *fdBufferNotifier_;
 
-	bool streaming_;
+	enum class State { Streaming, Stopping, Stopped };
+	State state_;
 };
 
 class V4L2M2MDevice
diff --git a/src/libcamera/v4l2_videodevice.cpp b/src/libcamera/v4l2_videodevice.cpp
index 5f36ee20710d..9cea6a608660 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/v4l2_videodevice.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/v4l2_videodevice.cpp
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ const std::string V4L2DeviceFormat::toString() const
  */
 V4L2VideoDevice::V4L2VideoDevice(const std::string &deviceNode)
 	: V4L2Device(deviceNode), formatInfo_(nullptr), cache_(nullptr),
-	  fdBufferNotifier_(nullptr), streaming_(false)
+	  fdBufferNotifier_(nullptr), state_(State::Stopped)
 {
 	/*
 	 * We default to an MMAP based CAPTURE video device, however this will
@@ -1796,7 +1796,7 @@ int V4L2VideoDevice::streamOn()
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	streaming_ = true;
+	state_ = State::Streaming;
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -1818,7 +1818,7 @@ int V4L2VideoDevice::streamOff()
 {
 	int ret;
 
-	if (!streaming_ && queuedBuffers_.empty())
+	if (state_ != State::Streaming && queuedBuffers_.empty())
 		return 0;
 
 	ret = ioctl(VIDIOC_STREAMOFF, &bufferType_);
@@ -1828,6 +1828,8 @@ int V4L2VideoDevice::streamOff()
 		return ret;
 	}
 
+	state_ = State::Stopping;
+
 	/* Send back all queued buffers. */
 	for (auto it : queuedBuffers_) {
 		FrameBuffer *buffer = it.second;
@@ -1838,7 +1840,7 @@ int V4L2VideoDevice::streamOff()
 
 	queuedBuffers_.clear();
 	fdBufferNotifier_->setEnabled(false);
-	streaming_ = false;
+	state_ = State::Stopped;
 
 	return 0;
 }