diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.c
index ef2d504e04..5b4e2b134b 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-good/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxpartreader.c
@@ -231,6 +231,12 @@ splitmux_part_pad_chain (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buf)
     return GST_FLOW_FLUSHING;
   }
 
+  if (GST_PAD_LAST_FLOW_RETURN (part_pad->target) == GST_FLOW_NOT_LINKED) {
+    SPLITMUX_PART_UNLOCK (reader);
+    gst_buffer_unref (buf);
+    return GST_FLOW_NOT_LINKED;
+  }
+
   /* Adjust buffer timestamps */
   offset = reader->start_offset + part_pad->segment.base;
   offset -= part_pad->initial_ts_offset;