diff --git a/include/libcamera/camera.h b/include/libcamera/camera.h
index bbe2696e837b..36bf1cbb215b 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/camera.h
+++ b/include/libcamera/camera.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ private:
 
 	friend class PipelineHandler;
 	void disconnect();
+	int exclusiveAccess();
 
 	std::shared_ptr<PipelineHandler> pipe_;
 	std::string name_;
diff --git a/src/libcamera/camera.cpp b/src/libcamera/camera.cpp
index e8dab6f0bab2..62291d2c9e6c 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/camera.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/camera.cpp
@@ -240,6 +240,23 @@ Camera::streamConfiguration(std::vector<Stream *> &streams)
  * \retval -EINVAL The configuration is not valid
  */
 int Camera::configureStreams(std::map<Stream *, StreamConfiguration> &config)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = exclusiveAccess();
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
+	if (!config.size()) {
+		LOG(Camera, Error)
+			<< "Can't configure streams without a configuration";
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	return pipe_->configureStreams(this, config);
+}
+
+int Camera::exclusiveAccess()
 {
 	if (disconnected_)
 		return -ENODEV;
@@ -247,10 +264,7 @@ int Camera::configureStreams(std::map<Stream *, StreamConfiguration> &config)
 	if (!acquired_)
 		return -EACCES;
 
-	if (!config.size())
-		return -EINVAL;
-
-	return pipe_->configureStreams(this, config);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 } /* namespace libcamera */