diff --git a/tests/examples/gtk/gtkglsink.c b/tests/examples/gtk/gtkglsink.c
index 72c867f23b..62e512522b 100644
--- a/tests/examples/gtk/gtkglsink.c
+++ b/tests/examples/gtk/gtkglsink.c
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
   gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (window), area);
 
   gtk_widget_realize (area);
+  g_object_unref (area);
 
   caps = gst_caps_new_simple ("video/x-raw", "width", G_TYPE_INT, 640,
       "height", G_TYPE_INT, 480, "format", G_TYPE_STRING, "RGBA",
diff --git a/tests/examples/gtk/gtksink.c b/tests/examples/gtk/gtksink.c
index 0fea057922..d86fd090e5 100644
--- a/tests/examples/gtk/gtksink.c
+++ b/tests/examples/gtk/gtksink.c
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 
   g_object_get (videosink, "widget", &area, NULL);
   gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (window), area);
+  g_object_unref (area);
 
   gtk_widget_realize (area);