diff --git a/mgr/src/power.rs b/mgr/src/power.rs
index 6a6cae1..8f625b6 100644
--- a/mgr/src/power.rs
+++ b/mgr/src/power.rs
@@ -153,7 +153,11 @@ fn screen_off() -> Result<(), Error> {
 }
 
 fn lock() -> Result<cmd::RunningProcess, Error> {
-    spotify::pause()?;
+    match spotify::pause() {
+        Ok(_) => (),
+        Err(spotify::Error::NotFound) => (),
+        Err(e) => return Err(e.into()),
+    }
 
     let lock_handle = cmd::start_command(
         "i3lock",
diff --git a/mgr/src/spotify.rs b/mgr/src/spotify.rs
index 8712494..267cb98 100644
--- a/mgr/src/spotify.rs
+++ b/mgr/src/spotify.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ pub enum Error {
     Cli(#[from] cli::ParseError),
     #[error(transparent)]
     Systemd(#[from] systemd::Error),
+    #[error("spotify does not seem to be running")]
+    NotFound,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
@@ -156,7 +158,14 @@ pub(crate) fn set(status: Status) -> Result<(), Error> {
 }
 
 fn playerctl(cmd: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
-    Ok(cmd::command("playerctl", &["-p", "spotify", cmd])?)
+    if cmd::run_command("playerctl", &["-p", "spotify", cmd])?
+        .stderr
+        .contains("No players found")
+    {
+        Err(Error::NotFound)
+    } else {
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn pause() -> Result<(), Error> {