diff --git a/drivers/cam_req_mgr/cam_req_mgr_core.c b/drivers/cam_req_mgr/cam_req_mgr_core.c
index fdbd9565ab49..8a904c025af6 100644
--- a/drivers/cam_req_mgr/cam_req_mgr_core.c
+++ b/drivers/cam_req_mgr/cam_req_mgr_core.c
@@ -1632,7 +1632,7 @@ static int __cam_req_mgr_process_req(struct cam_req_mgr_core_link *link,
 	struct cam_req_mgr_slot             *slot = NULL;
 	struct cam_req_mgr_req_queue        *in_q;
 	struct cam_req_mgr_core_session     *session;
-	struct cam_req_mgr_connected_device *dev;
+	struct cam_req_mgr_connected_device *dev = NULL;
 	struct cam_req_mgr_core_link        *tmp_link = NULL;
 	uint32_t                             max_retry = 0;
 
@@ -1758,7 +1758,7 @@ static int __cam_req_mgr_process_req(struct cam_req_mgr_core_link *link,
 		if (link->max_delay == 1)
 			max_retry++;
 
-		if (!link->wq_congestion) {
+		if (!link->wq_congestion && dev) {
 			link->retry_cnt++;
 			if (link->retry_cnt == max_retry) {
 				CAM_DBG(CAM_CRM,