diff --git a/apps/desktop/desktop_native/windows_plugin_authenticator/src/ipc2/mod.rs b/apps/desktop/desktop_native/windows_plugin_authenticator/src/ipc2/mod.rs
index 1cdb7c4b3a4..d1e3860c520 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/desktop_native/windows_plugin_authenticator/src/ipc2/mod.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop/desktop_native/windows_plugin_authenticator/src/ipc2/mod.rs
@@ -103,6 +103,10 @@ pub struct NativeStatus {
 const NO_CALLBACK_INDICATOR: u32 = 0;
 
 impl WindowsProviderClient {
+    pub fn is_available() -> bool {
+        desktop_core::ipc::path("af").exists()
+    }
+
     // FIXME: Remove unwraps! They panic and terminate the whole application.
     #[allow(clippy::unwrap_used)]
     pub fn connect() -> Self {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/desktop_native/windows_plugin_authenticator/src/lib.rs b/apps/desktop/desktop_native/windows_plugin_authenticator/src/lib.rs
index 4a46c45af48..977c95dbb71 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/desktop_native/windows_plugin_authenticator/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop/desktop_native/windows_plugin_authenticator/src/lib.rs
@@ -226,6 +226,10 @@ impl PluginAuthenticator for BitwardenPluginAuthenticator {
     }
 
     fn lock_status(&self) -> Result<PluginLockStatus, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+        // If the IPC pipe is not open, then the client is not open and must be locked/logged out.
+        if !WindowsProviderClient::is_available() {
+            return Ok(PluginLockStatus::PluginLocked);
+        }
         get_lock_status(&self.get_client())
             .map(|response| {
                 if response.is_unlocked {