diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index cb25c1a0e..c221a6669 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ ver 0.23.8 (not yet released)
 * mixer
   - better error messages
   - alsa: fix setting volume before playback starts
+  - pipewire: fix crash bug
 * support libfmt 9
 
 ver 0.23.7 (2022/05/09)
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/PipeWireOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/PipeWireOutputPlugin.cxx
index c752820d0..c407dd3c1 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/PipeWireOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/PipeWireOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -312,6 +312,14 @@ PipeWireOutput::PipeWireOutput(const ConfigBlock &block)
 void
 PipeWireOutput::SetVolume(float _volume)
 {
+	if (thread_loop == nullptr) {
+		/* the mixer is open (because it is a "global" mixer),
+		   but Enable() on this output has not yet been
+		   called */
+		volume = _volume;
+		return;
+	}
+
 	const PipeWire::ThreadLoopLock lock(thread_loop);
 
 	float newvol = _volume*_volume*_volume;