diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/basecamerabinsrc/gstbasecamerasrc.c b/gst-libs/gst/basecamerabinsrc/gstbasecamerasrc.c
index 56bdc6cf68..d5b8ed7728 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/basecamerabinsrc/gstbasecamerasrc.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/basecamerabinsrc/gstbasecamerasrc.c
@@ -445,7 +445,11 @@ gst_base_camera_src_change_state (GstElement * element,
             gst_camerabin_create_preview_pipeline (GST_ELEMENT_CAST (self),
             self->preview_filter);
 
-      g_assert (self->preview_pipeline != NULL);
+      if (self->preview_pipeline == NULL) {
+        /* failed to create preview pipeline, fail state change */
+        return GST_STATE_CHANGE_FAILURE;
+      }
+
       self->preview_filter_changed = FALSE;
       if (self->preview_caps) {
         GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (self,
diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/basecamerabinsrc/gstcamerabinpreview.c b/gst-libs/gst/basecamerabinsrc/gstcamerabinpreview.c
index 5dd82dad16..be42c98dc1 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/basecamerabinsrc/gstcamerabinpreview.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/basecamerabinsrc/gstcamerabinpreview.c
@@ -231,6 +231,8 @@ void
 gst_camerabin_destroy_preview_pipeline (GstCameraBinPreviewPipelineData *
     preview)
 {
+  g_return_if_fail (preview != NULL);
+
   if (preview->processing_lock) {
     g_mutex_free (preview->processing_lock);
     preview->processing_lock = NULL;