diff --git a/src/server/qgsfilterrestorer.cpp b/src/server/qgsfilterrestorer.cpp
index 40bf9402573..ab399b202fc 100644
--- a/src/server/qgsfilterrestorer.cpp
+++ b/src/server/qgsfilterrestorer.cpp
@@ -61,10 +61,9 @@ void QgsOWSServerFilterRestorer::restoreLayerFilters( const QHash<QgsMapLayer *,
     QgsVectorLayer *filteredLayer = qobject_cast<QgsVectorLayer *>( filterIt.key() );
     if ( filteredLayer )
     {
-      QgsVectorDataProvider *dp = filteredLayer->dataProvider();
-      if ( dp )
+      if ( !filteredLayer->setSubsetString( filterIt.value() ) )
       {
-        dp->setSubsetString( filterIt.value() );
+        QgsMessageLog::logMessage( QStringLiteral( "Layer does not support Subset String" ) );
       }
     }
   }