diff --git a/src/software-sensor.cpp b/src/software-sensor.cpp
index f954b536ac..17e438305a 100644
--- a/src/software-sensor.cpp
+++ b/src/software-sensor.cpp
@@ -253,6 +253,9 @@ frame_interface * software_sensor::allocate_new_video_frame( video_stream_profil
 
         vid_frame->assign( profile->get_width(), profile->get_height(), stride, bpp * 8 );
         auto sd = dynamic_cast< software_device * >( _owner );
+        if (!sd)
+            throw std::runtime_error("Owner is not a software device");
+
         sd->register_extrinsic( *profile );
     }
     return frame;