diff --git a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2allocator.c b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2allocator.c
index 4fa5d274fc..e82a8532d6 100644
--- a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2allocator.c
+++ b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2allocator.c
@@ -812,6 +812,9 @@ gst_v4l2_allocator_orphan (GstV4l2Allocator * allocator)
 
   GST_OBJECT_FLAG_SET (allocator, GST_V4L2_ALLOCATOR_FLAG_ORPHANED);
 
+  if (!g_atomic_int_get (&allocator->active))
+    return TRUE;
+
   if (obj->ioctl (obj->video_fd, VIDIOC_REQBUFS, &breq) < 0) {
     GST_ERROR_OBJECT (allocator,
         "error orphaning buffers buffers: %s", g_strerror (errno));