diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/v4l2codecs/gstv4l2codecvp9dec.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/v4l2codecs/gstv4l2codecvp9dec.c
index fe012adf87..171b07b98b 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/v4l2codecs/gstv4l2codecvp9dec.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/v4l2codecs/gstv4l2codecvp9dec.c
@@ -271,19 +271,22 @@ gst_v4l2_codecs_vp9_dec_fill_refs (GstV4l2CodecVp9Dec * self,
 {
   GstVp9Picture *ref_pic;
 
-  if (reference_frames && reference_frames->pic_list[h->ref_frame_idx[0]]) {
+  if (!reference_frames)
+    return;
+
+  if (reference_frames->pic_list[h->ref_frame_idx[0]]) {
     ref_pic = reference_frames->pic_list[h->ref_frame_idx[0]];
     self->v4l2_vp9_frame.last_frame_ts =
         GST_CODEC_PICTURE_FRAME_NUMBER (ref_pic) * G_GUINT64_CONSTANT (1000);
   }
 
-  if (reference_frames && reference_frames->pic_list[h->ref_frame_idx[1]]) {
+  if (reference_frames->pic_list[h->ref_frame_idx[1]]) {
     ref_pic = reference_frames->pic_list[h->ref_frame_idx[1]];
     self->v4l2_vp9_frame.golden_frame_ts =
         GST_CODEC_PICTURE_FRAME_NUMBER (ref_pic) * G_GUINT64_CONSTANT (1000);
   }
 
-  if (reference_frames && reference_frames->pic_list[h->ref_frame_idx[2]]) {
+  if (reference_frames->pic_list[h->ref_frame_idx[2]]) {
     ref_pic = reference_frames->pic_list[h->ref_frame_idx[2]];
     self->v4l2_vp9_frame.alt_frame_ts =
         GST_CODEC_PICTURE_FRAME_NUMBER (ref_pic) * G_GUINT64_CONSTANT (1000);