diff --git a/gst/vaapi/gstvaapiencode.c b/gst/vaapi/gstvaapiencode.c
index c8a29efa8e..b573e188be 100644
--- a/gst/vaapi/gstvaapiencode.c
+++ b/gst/vaapi/gstvaapiencode.c
@@ -441,6 +441,9 @@ ensure_allowed_sinkpad_caps (GstVaapiEncode * encode)
   ret = TRUE;
 
 bail:
+  if (!encode->allowed_sinkpad_caps)
+    encode->allowed_sinkpad_caps = gst_caps_new_empty ();
+
   if (out_caps)
     gst_caps_unref (out_caps);
   if (raw_caps)