diff --git a/src/libcamera/converter.cpp b/src/libcamera/converter.cpp
index 3de39cff..38141da6 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/converter.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/converter.cpp
@@ -226,8 +226,9 @@ std::unique_ptr<Converter> ConverterFactoryBase::create(MediaDevice *media)
 			<< "Creating converter from "
 			<< factory->name_ << " factory with "
 			<< (it == compatibles.end() ? "no" : media->driver()) << " alias.";
+		std::unique_ptr<Converter> converter_ = factory->createInstance(media);
 
-		return factory->createInstance(media);
+		return converter_->isValid() ? std::move(converter_) : nullptr;
 	}
 
 	return nullptr;
diff --git a/src/libcamera/pipeline/simple/simple.cpp b/src/libcamera/pipeline/simple/simple.cpp
index 24ded4db..2423ec10 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/pipeline/simple/simple.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/pipeline/simple/simple.cpp
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ int SimpleCameraData::init()
 	MediaDevice *converter = pipe->converter();
 	if (converter) {
 		converter_ = ConverterFactoryBase::create(converter);
-		if (!converter_->isValid()) {
+		if (!converter_) {
 			LOG(SimplePipeline, Warning)
 				<< "Failed to create converter, disabling format conversion";
 			converter_.reset();