diff --git a/plugins/linux-capture/pipewire-capture.c b/plugins/linux-capture/pipewire-capture.c
index 7f4c0ee66..419732823 100644
--- a/plugins/linux-capture/pipewire-capture.c
+++ b/plugins/linux-capture/pipewire-capture.c
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ static void pipewire_capture_video_render(void *data, gs_effect_t *effect)
 	obs_pipewire_video_render(data, effect);
 }
 
+static bool initialized = false;
+
 void pipewire_capture_load(void)
 {
 	uint32_t available_capture_types = portal_get_available_capture_types();
@@ -173,9 +175,11 @@ void pipewire_capture_load(void)
 		obs_register_source(&pipewire_window_capture_info);
 
 	pw_init(NULL, NULL);
+	initialized = true;
 }
 
 void pipewire_capture_unload(void)
 {
-	pw_deinit();
+	if (initialized)
+		pw_deinit();
 }