diff --git a/soundio/soundio.h b/soundio/soundio.h
index c93697b..e964636 100644
--- a/soundio/soundio.h
+++ b/soundio/soundio.h
@@ -1015,6 +1015,7 @@ SOUNDIO_EXPORT int soundio_outstream_clear_buffer(struct SoundIoOutStream *outst
 /// * #SoundIoErrorIncompatibleDevice - device does not support
 ///   pausing/unpausing. This error code might not be returned even if the
 ///   device does not support pausing/unpausing.
+/// * #SoundIoErrorInvalid - outstream not opened and started
 SOUNDIO_EXPORT int soundio_outstream_pause(struct SoundIoOutStream *outstream, bool pause);
 
 /// Obtain the total number of seconds that the next frame written after the
diff --git a/src/alsa.cpp b/src/alsa.cpp
index 9edead3..27f55d3 100644
--- a/src/alsa.cpp
+++ b/src/alsa.cpp
@@ -1459,8 +1459,14 @@ static int outstream_clear_buffer_alsa(SoundIoPrivate *si,
 }
 
 static int outstream_pause_alsa(struct SoundIoPrivate *si, struct SoundIoOutStreamPrivate *os, bool pause) {
+    if (!si)
+        return SoundIoErrorInvalid;
+
     SoundIoOutStreamAlsa *osa = &os->backend_data.alsa;
 
+    if (!osa->handle)
+        return SoundIoErrorInvalid;
+
     if (osa->is_paused == pause)
         return 0;