diff --git a/libs/backends/jack/jack_api.cc b/libs/backends/jack/jack_api.cc
index 44577b7f2f..2caf64da7e 100644
--- a/libs/backends/jack/jack_api.cc
+++ b/libs/backends/jack/jack_api.cc
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ instantiate (const std::string& arg1, const std::string& arg2)
 {
 	try {
 		jack_connection.reset (new JackConnection (arg1, arg2));
+		backend.reset ();
 	} catch (...) {
 		return -1;
 	}