diff --git a/plugins/feature/ambe/ambeworker.cpp b/plugins/feature/ambe/ambeworker.cpp
index 5c96ce990..8bf43ddca 100644
--- a/plugins/feature/ambe/ambeworker.cpp
+++ b/plugins/feature/ambe/ambeworker.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,11 @@ AMBEWorker::~AMBEWorker()
 
 bool AMBEWorker::open(const std::string& deviceRef)
 {
-    return m_dvController.open(deviceRef);
+    if (deviceRef.empty()) {
+        return false;
+    } else {
+        return m_dvController.open(deviceRef);
+    }
 }
 
 void AMBEWorker::close()