diff --git a/src/audio/chain_dma.c b/src/audio/chain_dma.c
index e7207e636ee8..f5919a0621db 100644
--- a/src/audio/chain_dma.c
+++ b/src/audio/chain_dma.c
@@ -168,6 +168,9 @@ static enum task_state chain_task_run(void *data)
 	uint32_t link_type;
 	int ret;
 
+	if (!cd || !cd->dma_buffer || !cd->chan_link || !cd->chan_host)
+		return SOF_TASK_STATE_COMPLETED;
+
 	/* Link DMA can return -EPIPE and current status if xrun occurs, then it is not critical
 	 * and flow shall continue. Other error values will be treated as critical.
 	 */
diff --git a/src/schedule/zephyr_dp_schedule_application.c b/src/schedule/zephyr_dp_schedule_application.c
index 791e16ab190d..79783ed52463 100644
--- a/src/schedule/zephyr_dp_schedule_application.c
+++ b/src/schedule/zephyr_dp_schedule_application.c
@@ -154,7 +154,6 @@ static void ipc_thread_unflatten_run(struct processing_module *pmod, struct ipc4
 int scheduler_dp_thread_ipc(struct processing_module *pmod, unsigned int cmd,
 			    const union scheduler_dp_thread_ipc_param *param)
 {
-	struct task_dp_pdata *pdata = pmod->dev->task->priv_data;
 	int ret;
 
 	if (!pmod) {
@@ -162,6 +161,13 @@ int scheduler_dp_thread_ipc(struct processing_module *pmod, unsigned int cmd,
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	if (!pmod->dev || !pmod->dev->task || !pmod->dev->task->priv_data) {
+		tr_err(&dp_tr, "no thread task or pdata");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	struct task_dp_pdata *pdata = pmod->dev->task->priv_data;
+
 	if (cmd == SOF_IPC4_MOD_INIT_INSTANCE) {
 		/* Wait for the DP thread to start */
 		ret = k_sem_take(&dp_sync[pmod->dev->task->core], DP_THREAD_IPC_TIMEOUT);
diff --git a/src/schedule/zephyr_ll.c b/src/schedule/zephyr_ll.c
index 9950c8c2050b..427512375942 100644
--- a/src/schedule/zephyr_ll.c
+++ b/src/schedule/zephyr_ll.c
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ static void zephyr_ll_task_done(struct zephyr_ll *sch,
 
 	task->state = SOF_TASK_STATE_FREE;
 
-	if (pdata->freeing)
+	if (pdata && pdata->freeing)
 		/*
 		 * zephyr_ll_task_free() is trying to free this task. Complete
 		 * it and signal the semaphore to let the function proceed
@@ -297,8 +297,9 @@ static void zephyr_ll_run(void *data)
 #ifndef CONFIG_SOF_USERSPACE_LL
 		zephyr_ll_lock(sch, &flags);
 #endif
+		pdata = task->priv_data;
 
-		if (pdata->freeing || state == SOF_TASK_STATE_COMPLETED) {
+		if (!pdata || pdata->freeing || state == SOF_TASK_STATE_COMPLETED) {
 			zephyr_ll_task_done(sch, task);
 		} else {
 			/*
@@ -457,9 +458,16 @@ static int zephyr_ll_task_free(void *data, struct task *task)
 {
 	struct zephyr_ll *sch = data;
 	uint32_t flags;
-	struct zephyr_ll_pdata *pdata = task->priv_data;
+	struct zephyr_ll_pdata *pdata;
 	bool must_wait, on_list = true;
 
+	if (!task)
+		return 0;
+
+	pdata = task->priv_data;
+	if (!pdata)
+		return 0;
+
 	zephyr_ll_assert_core(sch);
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_SOF_USERSPACE_LL