diff --git a/Emby.Server.Implementations/HttpServer/WebSocketConnection.cs b/Emby.Server.Implementations/HttpServer/WebSocketConnection.cs
index d738047e07..dedc8978bc 100644
--- a/Emby.Server.Implementations/HttpServer/WebSocketConnection.cs
+++ b/Emby.Server.Implementations/HttpServer/WebSocketConnection.cs
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer
                 return;
             }
 
-            WebSocketMessage<object> stub;
+            WebSocketMessage<object>? stub;
             try
             {
 
@@ -209,6 +209,12 @@ namespace Emby.Server.Implementations.HttpServer
                 return;
             }
 
+            if (stub is null)
+            {
+                _logger.LogError("Error processing web socket message");
+                return;
+            }
+
             // Tell the PipeReader how much of the buffer we have consumed
             reader.AdvanceTo(buffer.End);