diff --git a/common b/common
index 8579ce0ed6..4dab76096c 160000
--- a/common
+++ b/common
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 8579ce0ed656e0c512b37ff70bebd54cab4d4e7d
+Subproject commit 4dab76096cb84988dc2b6366cf5bd964fe5857d7
diff --git a/gst/gstelement.h b/gst/gstelement.h
index 5e0875f9cf..509f616e52 100644
--- a/gst/gstelement.h
+++ b/gst/gstelement.h
@@ -346,8 +346,8 @@ gboolean		gst_element_factory_can_sink_caps	(GstElementFactory *factory,
 
 GstElement*		gst_element_factory_create		(GstElementFactory *factory,
 								 const gchar *name);
-/* FIXME this name is wrong, probably so is the one above it */
 GstElement*		gst_element_factory_make		(const gchar *factoryname, const gchar *name);
+GstElement*		gst_element_factory_make_or_warn	(const gchar *factoryname, const gchar *name);
 
 void			gst_element_factory_set_rank		(GstElementFactory *factory, guint16 rank);
 
diff --git a/gst/gstelementfactory.c b/gst/gstelementfactory.c
index a706cbf371..3871e3920d 100644
--- a/gst/gstelementfactory.c
+++ b/gst/gstelementfactory.c
@@ -259,6 +259,28 @@ gst_element_factory_make (const gchar *factoryname, const gchar *name)
   return element;
 }
 
+/**
+ * gst_element_factory_make_or_warn:
+ * @factoryname: a named factory to instantiate
+ * @name: name of new element
+ *
+ * Create a new element of the type defined by the given element factory
+ * using #gst_element_factory_make.
+ * Will use g_warning if the element could not be created.
+ *
+ * Returns: new #GstElement (or NULL if unable to create element)
+ */
+GstElement*
+gst_element_factory_make_or_warn (const gchar *factoryname, const gchar *name)
+{
+  GstElement *element = gst_element_factory_make (factoryname, name);
+
+  if (element == NULL) 
+    g_warning ("Could not create element from factory %s !\n", factoryname);
+
+  return element;
+}
+    
 /**
  * gst_element_factory_add_pad_template :
  * @elementfactory: factory to add the src id to