diff --git a/gst/gstutils.c b/gst/gstutils.c
index 57c2a64728..2fc29cbb23 100644
--- a/gst/gstutils.c
+++ b/gst/gstutils.c
@@ -2799,7 +2799,11 @@ gst_pad_proxy_setcaps (GstPad * pad, GstCaps * caps)
   if (element == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
-  iter = gst_element_iterate_pads (element);
+  /* only iterate the pads in the oposite direction */
+  if (GST_PAD_IS_SRC (pad))
+    iter = gst_element_iterate_sink_pads (element);
+  else
+    iter = gst_element_iterate_src_pads (element);
 
   g_value_init (&ret, G_TYPE_BOOLEAN);
   g_value_set_boolean (&ret, TRUE);