diff --git a/sink/sink20169.c b/sink/sink20169.c
index f673e53..18940b2 100644
--- a/sink/sink20169.c
+++ b/sink/sink20169.c
@@ -279,6 +279,10 @@ int forwardMinuteBuffer(t_forwarderHandle *handle, t_minuteBuffer *buf) {
            buf->s.version);
            
     t_device *device = findDevice(handle->configHandle, buf->s.deviceId);
+    if (device == NULL) {
+        logmsg(LOG_ERR, "unknown device, strange, should not happen here");
+        return -2;
+    }
     const char *location = device->location;
 
     for (uint8_t j = 0; j < SECONDS_PER_MINUTE; j++) {