diff --git a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
index bdbd4d6..9d69284 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
@@ -4387,11 +4387,12 @@
 
     sp<IAfThreadBase> thread = getEffectThread_l(sessionId, effectId);
     if (thread == nullptr) {
-      return;
+        return;
     }
     audio_utils::lock_guard _sl(thread->mutex());
-    sp<IAfEffectModule> effect = thread->getEffect_l(sessionId, effectId);
-    thread->setEffectSuspended_l(&effect->desc().type, suspended, sessionId);
+    if (const auto& effect = thread->getEffect_l(sessionId, effectId)) {
+        thread->setEffectSuspended_l(&effect->desc().type, suspended, sessionId);
+    }
 }