diff --git a/gst/gstscheduler.c b/gst/gstscheduler.c
index 63a0636461..9c7cf34389 100644
--- a/gst/gstscheduler.c
+++ b/gst/gstscheduler.c
@@ -402,7 +402,8 @@ gst_schedulerfactory_class_init (GstSchedulerFactoryClass *klass)
 #endif
 
   _gst_schedulerfactories = NULL;
-  _default_name = g_strdup ("basic");
+  if (!_default_name)
+    _default_name = g_strdup ("basic");
 }
 
 static void