diff --git a/src/v4l2/v4l2_camera_proxy.cpp b/src/v4l2/v4l2_camera_proxy.cpp
index c3032f5..63c6a2c 100644
--- a/src/v4l2/v4l2_camera_proxy.cpp
+++ b/src/v4l2/v4l2_camera_proxy.cpp
@@ -578,6 +578,9 @@ int V4L2CameraProxy::vidioc_dqbuf(V4L2CameraFile *cf, struct v4l2_buffer *arg)
 {
 	LOG(V4L2Compat, Debug) << "Servicing vidioc_dqbuf fd = " << cf->efd();
 
+	if (!vcam_->isRunning())
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	int ret = lock(cf);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;