diff --git a/backend/BackendManager.cpp b/backend/BackendManager.cpp
index 04b1944..232537b 100644
--- a/backend/BackendManager.cpp
+++ b/backend/BackendManager.cpp
@@ -43,9 +43,21 @@ int BackendManager::RegisterBackend(const std::string &name,
   return 0;
 }
 
+std::unique_ptr<DrmDisplayPipeline> BackendManager::CreatePipelineForConnector(
+    DrmConnector &connector) {
+  auto pipeline = DrmDisplayPipeline::CreatePipeline(connector);
+  if (pipeline) {
+    pipeline->backend = CreateBackendForConnector(connector);
+  }
+  if (!pipeline || !pipeline->backend) {
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+  return pipeline;
+}
+
 std::unique_ptr<Backend> BackendManager::CreateBackendForConnector(
-    const DrmConnector *connector) {
-  auto driver_name(connector->GetDev().GetName());
+    const DrmConnector &connector) {
+  auto driver_name(connector.GetDev().GetName());
   std::string backend_name = Properties::GetBackendOverride();
   if (backend_name.empty()) {
     backend_name = driver_name;
@@ -54,14 +66,13 @@ std::unique_ptr<Backend> BackendManager::CreateBackendForConnector(
   auto backend = GetBackendByName(backend_name);
   if (backend == nullptr) {
     ALOGE("Failed to create backend '%s' for '%s' and driver '%s'",
-          backend_name.c_str(), connector->GetName().c_str(),
+          backend_name.c_str(), connector.GetName().c_str(),
           driver_name.c_str());
     return nullptr;
   }
 
   ALOGI("Backend '%s' for '%s' and driver '%s' was successfully created",
-        backend_name.c_str(), connector->GetName().c_str(),
-        driver_name.c_str());
+        backend_name.c_str(), connector.GetName().c_str(), driver_name.c_str());
 
   return backend;
 }
diff --git a/backend/BackendManager.h b/backend/BackendManager.h
index 456c028..a8b9e97 100644
--- a/backend/BackendManager.h
+++ b/backend/BackendManager.h
@@ -40,10 +40,14 @@ class BackendManager {
   static BackendManager &GetInstance();
   int RegisterBackend(const std::string &name,
                       BackendConstructorT backend_constructor);
-  std::unique_ptr<Backend> CreateBackendForConnector(
-      const DrmConnector *connector);
+
+  std::unique_ptr<DrmDisplayPipeline> CreatePipelineForConnector(
+      DrmConnector &connector);
 
  private:
+  std::unique_ptr<Backend> CreateBackendForConnector(
+      const DrmConnector &connector);
+
   std::unique_ptr<Backend> GetBackendByName(std::string &name);
 
   BackendManager() = default;
diff --git a/drm/DrmHwc.cpp b/drm/DrmHwc.cpp
index 2491cde..7cfd48c 100644
--- a/drm/DrmHwc.cpp
+++ b/drm/DrmHwc.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <utility>
 
-#include "backend/BackendManager.h"
 #include "stats/CompositionStats.h"
 #include "utils/log.h"
 #include "utils/properties.h"
@@ -129,8 +128,6 @@ bool DrmHwc::BindDisplay(std::shared_ptr<DrmDisplayPipeline> pipeline) {
         pipeline->connector->Get()->GetName().c_str(), (int)disp_handle,
         disp_handle == kPrimaryDisplay ? " (Primary)" : "");
 
-  pipeline->backend = BackendManager::GetInstance().CreateBackendForConnector(
-      pipeline->connector->Get());
   displays_[disp_handle]->SetPipeline(pipeline);
   display_handles_[pipeline] = disp_handle;
 
@@ -185,9 +182,6 @@ std::optional<DisplayHandle> DrmHwc::CreateVirtualDisplay(uint32_t width,
                                            /* is_virtual */ true, this);
 
   disp->SetVirtualDisplayResolution(width, height);
-  virtual_pipeline->backend = BackendManager::GetInstance()
-                                  .CreateBackendForConnector(
-                                      virtual_pipeline->connector->Get());
   disp->SetPipeline(virtual_pipeline);
   displays_[new_display_handle] = std::move(disp);
   return new_display_handle;
diff --git a/drm/ResourceManager.cpp b/drm/ResourceManager.cpp
index 2208f11..d44e77e 100644
--- a/drm/ResourceManager.cpp
+++ b/drm/ResourceManager.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <ctime>
 #include <sstream>
 
+#include "backend/BackendManager.h"
 #include "bufferinfo/BufferInfoGetter.h"
 #include "drm/DrmAtomicStateManager.h"
 #include "drm/DrmDevice.h"
@@ -147,8 +148,11 @@ void ResourceManager::UpdateFrontendDisplays() {
 
       if (connected) {
         std::shared_ptr<DrmDisplayPipeline>
-            pipeline = DrmDisplayPipeline::CreatePipeline(*conn);
-
+            pipeline = BackendManager::GetInstance().CreatePipelineForConnector(
+                *conn);
+        ALOGE_IF(pipeline == nullptr,
+                 "Failed to create pipeline for connector %s",
+                 conn->GetName().c_str());
         if (pipeline) {
           frontend_interface_->BindDisplay(pipeline);
           attached_pipelines_[conn] = std::move(pipeline);