diff --git a/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h b/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h
index 85c9059e2..f97d25f0a 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h
+++ b/include/libcamera/internal/software_isp/software_isp.h
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ public:
 private:
 	void saveIspParams(const uint32_t paramsBufferId);
 	void paramsBufferReady(const uint32_t paramsBufferId);
+	bool allocateParamsBuffers();
 	void setSensorCtrls(const ControlList &sensorControls);
 	void statsReady(uint32_t frame, uint32_t bufferId);
 	void inputReady(FrameBuffer *input);
diff --git a/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp b/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp
index a1200e924..774f2bf75 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/software_isp/software_isp.cpp
@@ -90,12 +90,8 @@ SoftwareIsp::SoftwareIsp(PipelineHandler *pipe, const CameraSensor *sensor,
 		LOG(SoftwareIsp, Error) << "Failed to create DmaBufAllocator object";
 		return;
 	}
-
-	sharedParams_ = SharedMemObject<DebayerParams>("softIsp_params");
-	if (!sharedParams_) {
-		LOG(SoftwareIsp, Error) << "Failed to create shared memory for parameters";
+	if (!allocateParamsBuffers())
 		return;
-	}
 
 	const CameraManager &cm = *pipe->cameraManager();
 
@@ -181,6 +177,17 @@ SoftwareIsp::~SoftwareIsp()
 	debayer_.reset();
 }
 
+bool SoftwareIsp::allocateParamsBuffers()
+{
+	sharedParams_ = SharedMemObject<DebayerParams>("softIsp_params");
+	if (!sharedParams_) {
+		LOG(SoftwareIsp, Error) << "Failed to create shared memory for parameters";
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	return true;
+}
+
 /**
  * \fn int SoftwareIsp::loadConfiguration([[maybe_unused]] const std::string &filename)
  * \brief Load a configuration from a file