diff --git a/drivers/cam_req_mgr/cam_mem_mgr.c b/drivers/cam_req_mgr/cam_mem_mgr.c
index 73ac694eeafa..b7f77506d004 100644
--- a/drivers/cam_req_mgr/cam_mem_mgr.c
+++ b/drivers/cam_req_mgr/cam_mem_mgr.c
@@ -234,6 +234,11 @@ int cam_mem_get_cpu_buf(int32_t buf_handle, uintptr_t *vaddr_ptr, size_t *len)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	if (!atomic_read(&cam_mem_mgr_state)) {
+		CAM_ERR(CAM_MEM, "failed. mem_mgr not initialized");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	if (!buf_handle || !vaddr_ptr || !len)
 		return -EINVAL;