diff --git a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
index a277ad1..29c6845 100644
--- a/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/audioflinger/AudioFlinger.cpp
@@ -4270,7 +4270,7 @@
 
     response->id = idOut;
     response->enabled = enabledOut != 0;
-    response->effect = handle->asIEffect();
+    response->effect = handle.get() ? handle->asIEffect() : nullptr;
     response->desc = VALUE_OR_RETURN_STATUS(
             legacy2aidl_effect_descriptor_t_EffectDescriptor(descOut));