diff --git a/internal/hass/api.go b/internal/hass/api.go
index e3de23b3..9f110fc8 100644
--- a/internal/hass/api.go
+++ b/internal/hass/api.go
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ func apiStream(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		// 1. link to go2rtc stream: rtsp://...:8554/{stream_name}
 		// 2. static link to Hass camera
 		// 3. dynamic link to Hass camera
-		if streams.Patch(v.Name, v.Channels.First.Url) != nil {
+		if _, err := streams.Patch(v.Name, v.Channels.First.Url); err == nil {
 			apiOK(w, r)
 		} else {
-			http.Error(w, "", http.StatusBadRequest)
+			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
 		}
 
 	// /stream/{id}/channel/0/webrtc
diff --git a/internal/hls/ws.go b/internal/hls/ws.go
index 608f515f..00eedfe2 100644
--- a/internal/hls/ws.go
+++ b/internal/hls/ws.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func handlerWSHLS(tr *ws.Transport, msg *ws.Message) error {
-	stream := streams.GetOrPatch(tr.Request.URL.Query())
+	stream, _ := streams.GetOrPatch(tr.Request.URL.Query())
 	if stream == nil {
 		return errors.New(api.StreamNotFound)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/mjpeg/init.go b/internal/mjpeg/init.go
index 27c557e4..2fa9fa32 100644
--- a/internal/mjpeg/init.go
+++ b/internal/mjpeg/init.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func Init() {
 var log zerolog.Logger
 
 func handlerKeyframe(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	stream := streams.GetOrPatch(r.URL.Query())
+	stream, _ := streams.GetOrPatch(r.URL.Query())
 	if stream == nil {
 		http.Error(w, api.StreamNotFound, http.StatusNotFound)
 		return
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ func inputMjpeg(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 }
 
 func handlerWS(tr *ws.Transport, _ *ws.Message) error {
-	stream := streams.GetOrPatch(tr.Request.URL.Query())
+	stream, _ := streams.GetOrPatch(tr.Request.URL.Query())
 	if stream == nil {
 		return errors.New(api.StreamNotFound)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/mp4/mp4.go b/internal/mp4/mp4.go
index cca5220c..d0a6d971 100644
--- a/internal/mp4/mp4.go
+++ b/internal/mp4/mp4.go
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func handlerMP4(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	stream := streams.GetOrPatch(query)
+	stream, _ := streams.GetOrPatch(query)
 	if stream == nil {
 		http.Error(w, api.StreamNotFound, http.StatusNotFound)
 		return
diff --git a/internal/mp4/ws.go b/internal/mp4/ws.go
index c880fb58..c1afac24 100644
--- a/internal/mp4/ws.go
+++ b/internal/mp4/ws.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func handlerWSMSE(tr *ws.Transport, msg *ws.Message) error {
-	stream := streams.GetOrPatch(tr.Request.URL.Query())
+	stream, _ := streams.GetOrPatch(tr.Request.URL.Query())
 	if stream == nil {
 		return errors.New(api.StreamNotFound)
 	}
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func handlerWSMSE(tr *ws.Transport, msg *ws.Message) error {
 }
 
 func handlerWSMP4(tr *ws.Transport, msg *ws.Message) error {
-	stream := streams.GetOrPatch(tr.Request.URL.Query())
+	stream, _ := streams.GetOrPatch(tr.Request.URL.Query())
 	if stream == nil {
 		return errors.New(api.StreamNotFound)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/streams/api.go b/internal/streams/api.go
index 28f09708..c2b93b91 100644
--- a/internal/streams/api.go
+++ b/internal/streams/api.go
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ func apiStreams(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			name = src
 		}
 
-		if New(name, query["src"]...) == nil {
-			http.Error(w, "", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		if _, err := New(name, query["src"]...); err != nil {
+			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
 			return
 		}
 
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ func apiStreams(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		}
 
 		// support {input} templates: https://github.com/AlexxIT/go2rtc#module-hass
-		if Patch(name, src) == nil {
-			http.Error(w, "", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		if _, err := Patch(name, src); err != nil {
+			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
 		}
 
 	case "POST":
diff --git a/internal/streams/streams.go b/internal/streams/streams.go
index 633ad2d1..2bc65486 100644
--- a/internal/streams/streams.go
+++ b/internal/streams/streams.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package streams
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"net/url"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -48,10 +49,14 @@ func Init() {
 	})
 }
 
-func New(name string, sources ...string) *Stream {
+func New(name string, sources ...string) (*Stream, error) {
 	for _, source := range sources {
-		if Validate(source) != nil {
-			return nil
+		if !HasProducer(source) {
+			return nil, errors.New("streams: source not supported")
+		}
+
+		if err := Validate(source); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -61,10 +66,10 @@ func New(name string, sources ...string) *Stream {
 	streams[name] = stream
 	streamsMu.Unlock()
 
-	return stream
+	return stream, nil
 }
 
-func Patch(name string, source string) *Stream {
+func Patch(name string, source string) (*Stream, error) {
 	streamsMu.Lock()
 	defer streamsMu.Unlock()
 
@@ -76,7 +81,7 @@ func Patch(name string, source string) *Stream {
 				// link (alias) streams[name] to streams[rtspName]
 				streams[name] = stream
 			}
-			return stream
+			return stream, nil
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -85,40 +90,40 @@ func Patch(name string, source string) *Stream {
 			// link (alias) streams[name] to streams[source]
 			streams[name] = stream
 		}
-		return stream
+		return stream, nil
 	}
 
 	// check if src has supported scheme
 	if !HasProducer(source) {
-		return nil
+		return nil, errors.New("streams: source not supported")
 	}
 
-	if Validate(source) != nil {
-		return nil
+	if err := Validate(source); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	// check an existing stream with this name
 	if stream, ok := streams[name]; ok {
 		stream.SetSource(source)
-		return stream
+		return stream, nil
 	}
 
 	// create new stream with this name
 	stream := NewStream(source)
 	streams[name] = stream
-	return stream
+	return stream, nil
 }
 
-func GetOrPatch(query url.Values) *Stream {
+func GetOrPatch(query url.Values) (*Stream, error) {
 	// check if src param exists
 	source := query.Get("src")
 	if source == "" {
-		return nil
+		return nil, errors.New("streams: source empty")
 	}
 
 	// check if src is stream name
 	if stream := Get(source); stream != nil {
-		return stream
+		return stream, nil
 	}
 
 	// check if name param provided
diff --git a/internal/webrtc/webrtc.go b/internal/webrtc/webrtc.go
index 11e9db89..eca1e12b 100644
--- a/internal/webrtc/webrtc.go
+++ b/internal/webrtc/webrtc.go
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func asyncHandler(tr *ws.Transport, msg *ws.Message) (err error) {
 
 	query := tr.Request.URL.Query()
 	if name := query.Get("src"); name != "" {
-		stream = streams.GetOrPatch(query)
+		stream, _ = streams.GetOrPatch(query)
 		mode = core.ModePassiveConsumer
 		log.Debug().Str("src", name).Msg("[webrtc] new consumer")
 	} else if name = query.Get("dst"); name != "" {