diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/gl/gstglbasefilter.c b/gst-libs/gst/gl/gstglbasefilter.c
index 86710733a4..40f37e1f81 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/gl/gstglbasefilter.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/gl/gstglbasefilter.c
@@ -541,6 +541,11 @@ gst_gl_base_filter_find_gl_context_unlocked (GstGLBaseFilter * filter)
 
   _find_local_gl_context_unlocked (filter);
 
+  if (!filter->display) {
+    GST_WARNING_OBJECT (filter, "filter has NULL display.");
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+
   if (!filter->context) {
     GST_OBJECT_LOCK (filter->display);
     do {