diff --git a/gst/pcapparse/gstpcapparse.c b/gst/pcapparse/gstpcapparse.c
index 1297c54695..069d75970e 100644
--- a/gst/pcapparse/gstpcapparse.c
+++ b/gst/pcapparse/gstpcapparse.c
@@ -494,7 +494,8 @@ gst_pcap_parse_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer)
                   GST_CLOCK_TIME_IS_VALID (self->cur_ts)) {
                 GstSegment segment;
 
-                gst_pad_set_caps (self->src_pad, self->caps);
+                if (self->caps)
+                  gst_pad_set_caps (self->src_pad, self->caps);
                 gst_segment_init (&segment, GST_FORMAT_TIME);
                 segment.start = self->cur_ts;
                 gst_pad_push_event (self->src_pad,
@@ -607,7 +608,5 @@ gst_pcap_sink_event (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
       break;
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (self);
-
   return ret;
 }