diff --git a/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegmux.c b/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegmux.c
index 4fb7b27280..3afdf239ef 100644
--- a/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegmux.c
+++ b/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegmux.c
@@ -861,16 +861,17 @@ gst_ffmpegmux_register (GstPlugin * plugin)
       type = g_type_register_static (GST_TYPE_ELEMENT, type_name, &typeinfo, 0);
       g_type_set_qdata (type, GST_FFMUX_PARAMS_QDATA, (gpointer) params);
       g_type_add_interface_static (type, GST_TYPE_TAG_SETTER, &tag_setter_info);
-
+    } else {
+      gst_caps_replace (&srccaps, NULL);
+      gst_caps_replace (&audiosinkcaps, NULL);
+      gst_caps_replace (&videosinkcaps, NULL);
     }
 
     if (!gst_element_register (plugin, type_name, GST_RANK_NONE, type)) {
       g_free (type_name);
-      gst_caps_unref (srccaps);
-      if (audiosinkcaps)
-        gst_caps_unref (audiosinkcaps);
-      if (videosinkcaps)
-        gst_caps_unref (videosinkcaps);
+      gst_caps_replace (&srccaps, NULL);
+      gst_caps_replace (&audiosinkcaps, NULL);
+      gst_caps_replace (&videosinkcaps, NULL);
       return FALSE;
     }