diff --git a/sys/dev/sound/pcm/dsp.c b/sys/dev/sound/pcm/dsp.c
--- a/sys/dev/sound/pcm/dsp.c
+++ b/sys/dev/sound/pcm/dsp.c
@@ -2086,7 +2086,7 @@
 	return;
 found:
 	d = devclass_get_softc(pcm_devclass, snd_unit);
-	if (!PCM_REGISTERED(d))
+	if (!PCM_REGISTERED(d) || d->dsp_dev == NULL)
 		return;
 	*dev = d->dsp_dev;
 	dev_ref(*dev);