diff --git a/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceController.mm b/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceController.mm
index 43c2d0e7084fdc..221b4731d2dffb 100644
--- a/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceController.mm
+++ b/src/darwin/Framework/CHIP/MTRDeviceController.mm
@@ -535,7 +535,11 @@ - (void)removeDevice:(MTRDevice *)device
 
 - (void)setDeviceControllerDelegate:(id<MTRDeviceControllerDelegate>)delegate queue:(dispatch_queue_t)queue
 {
+    VerifyOrReturn([self checkIsRunning]);
+
     dispatch_async(_chipWorkQueue, ^{
+        VerifyOrReturn([self checkIsRunning]);
+
         self->_deviceControllerDelegateBridge->setDelegate(self, delegate, queue);
     });
 }