diff --git a/src/channel.c b/src/channel.c
index 0313260..0d94656 100644
--- a/src/channel.c
+++ b/src/channel.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ void channel_add(jack_client_t *client, int idx)
         return;
     }
 
-    channels[idx].active = 1;
+    atomic_store(&channels[idx].active, 1);
     atomic_store(&channels[idx].state, STATE_IDLE);
     channels[idx].prev_state = -1;
     channels[idx].loop_count = 0;
@@ -38,6 +38,6 @@ void channel_remove(jack_client_t *client, int idx)
 {
     jack_port_unregister(client, channels[idx].audio_in);
     jack_port_unregister(client, channels[idx].audio_out);
-    channels[idx].active = 0;
+    atomic_store(&channels[idx].active, 0);
     channel_count--;
 }
diff --git a/src/channel.h b/src/channel.h
index d6f0d06..cb51698 100644
--- a/src/channel.h
+++ b/src/channel.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ struct channel_t {
     int           loop_count;
     int           record_pos;
     int           playback_pos;
-    int           active;
+    atomic_int    active;
     jack_port_t  *audio_in;
     jack_port_t  *audio_out;
 };
diff --git a/src/looper.c b/src/looper.c
index 6c0bd53..f72bf35 100644
--- a/src/looper.c
+++ b/src/looper.c
@@ -26,14 +26,16 @@ int process_callback(jack_nframes_t nframes, void *arg)
 {
     (void)arg;
 
-    void *midi_ctrl_buf = jack_port_get_buffer(midi_control_port, nframes);
-    if (midi_ctrl_buf) {
-        midi_handle_events(midi_ctrl_buf, nframes);
+    if (midi_control_port) {
+        void *midi_ctrl_buf = jack_port_get_buffer(midi_control_port, nframes);
+        if (midi_ctrl_buf) {
+            midi_handle_events(midi_ctrl_buf, nframes);
+        }
     }
 
     /* process each active channel */
     for (int c = 0; c < MAX_CHANNELS; c++) {
-        if (!channels[c].active) continue;
+        if (!atomic_load(&channels[c].active)) continue;
 
         /* Guard against NULL ports (e.g. if port registration failed) */
         if (!channels[c].audio_in || !channels[c].audio_out) {
@@ -108,30 +110,32 @@ int process_callback(jack_nframes_t nframes, void *arg)
     }
 
     /* MIDI clock events – affect channel 0 only */
-    void *midi_clock_buf = jack_port_get_buffer(midi_clock_port, nframes);
-    if (midi_clock_buf) {
-        jack_nframes_t n_clock_events = jack_midi_get_event_count(midi_clock_buf);
-        jack_midi_event_t cev;
-        for (jack_nframes_t j = 0; j < n_clock_events; j++) {
-            if (jack_midi_event_get(&cev, midi_clock_buf, j) != 0) continue;
-            if (cev.size >= 1) {
-                unsigned char msg = cev.buffer[0];
-                switch (msg) {
-                case 0xFA: {
-                    int s = atomic_load(&channels[0].state);
-                    if (s == STATE_IDLE) atomic_store(&channels[0].state, STATE_RECORD);
-                    break;
-                }
-                case 0xFC:
-                    atomic_store(&channels[0].state, STATE_IDLE);
-                    break;
-                case 0xFB: {
-                    int s = atomic_load(&channels[0].state);
-                    if (s == STATE_PAUSED) atomic_store(&channels[0].state, STATE_LOOPING);
-                    break;
-                }
-                default:
-                    break;
+    if (midi_clock_port) {
+        void *midi_clock_buf = jack_port_get_buffer(midi_clock_port, nframes);
+        if (midi_clock_buf) {
+            jack_nframes_t n_clock_events = jack_midi_get_event_count(midi_clock_buf);
+            jack_midi_event_t cev;
+            for (jack_nframes_t j = 0; j < n_clock_events; j++) {
+                if (jack_midi_event_get(&cev, midi_clock_buf, j) != 0) continue;
+                if (cev.size >= 1) {
+                    unsigned char msg = cev.buffer[0];
+                    switch (msg) {
+                    case 0xFA: {
+                        int s = atomic_load(&channels[0].state);
+                        if (s == STATE_IDLE) atomic_store(&channels[0].state, STATE_RECORD);
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    case 0xFC:
+                        atomic_store(&channels[0].state, STATE_IDLE);
+                        break;
+                    case 0xFB: {
+                        int s = atomic_load(&channels[0].state);
+                        if (s == STATE_PAUSED) atomic_store(&channels[0].state, STATE_LOOPING);
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    default:
+                        break;
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/tests/integration.c b/tests/integration.c
index 6ae382b..6f88fe6 100644
--- a/tests/integration.c
+++ b/tests/integration.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ static unsigned char midi_inject_velocity = 0;
 
 static int midi_inject_process(jack_nframes_t nframes, void *arg) {
     (void)arg;
+    if (!midi_inject_port) return 0;
     void *port_buf = jack_port_get_buffer(midi_inject_port, nframes);
     if (!port_buf) return 0;
     jack_midi_clear_buffer(port_buf);