diff --git a/src/libcamera/pipeline_handler.cpp b/src/libcamera/pipeline_handler.cpp
index 5a6de685..a20cd27d 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/pipeline_handler.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/pipeline_handler.cpp
@@ -205,7 +205,8 @@ void PipelineHandler::release(Camera *camera)
 
 	ASSERT(useCount_);
 
-	unlockMediaDevices();
+	if (useCount_ == 1)
+		unlockMediaDevices();
 
 	releaseDevice(camera);