diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_object.cpp b/src/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_object.cpp
index 4f6ca38ad2..8f09ef4277 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_object.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_object.cpp
@@ -339,7 +339,13 @@ void DrmObject::Property::initEnumMap(drmModePropertyRes *prop)
 
 }
 
-QDebug& operator<<(QDebug& s, const KWin::DrmObject *obj)
+QDebug operator<<(QDebug s, const KWin::DrmObject *obj)
 {
-    return s.nospace() << "DrmObject(" << obj->id() << ", gpu: "<< obj->gpu() << ')';
+    QDebugStateSaver saver(s);
+    if (obj) {
+        s.nospace() << "DrmObject(id=" << obj->id() << ", gpu="<< obj->gpu() << ')';
+    } else {
+        s << "DrmObject(0x0)";
+    }
+    return s;
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_object.h b/src/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_object.h
index 6a520d858c..9ead3af331 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_object.h
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_object.h
@@ -211,4 +211,4 @@ private:
 
 }
 
-QDebug& operator<<(QDebug& stream, const KWin::DrmObject*);
+QDebug operator<<(QDebug stream, const KWin::DrmObject*);