diff --git a/src/libcamera/dma_buf_allocator.cpp b/src/libcamera/dma_buf_allocator.cpp
index a014c3b4263c..d8c62dd67a96 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/dma_buf_allocator.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/dma_buf_allocator.cpp
@@ -325,7 +325,12 @@ DmaSyncer::DmaSyncer(SharedFD fd, SyncType type)
 
 DmaSyncer::~DmaSyncer()
 {
-	sync(DMA_BUF_SYNC_END);
+	/*
+	 * DmaSyncer might be moved and left with an empty SharedFD.
+	 * Avoid syncing with an invalid file descriptor in this case.
+	 */
+	if (fd_.isValid())
+		sync(DMA_BUF_SYNC_END);
 }
 
 void DmaSyncer::sync(uint64_t step)