diff --git a/gst/gstelementfactory.c b/gst/gstelementfactory.c
index df85c38e00..8ecc553db5 100644
--- a/gst/gstelementfactory.c
+++ b/gst/gstelementfactory.c
@@ -315,7 +315,9 @@ gst_elementfactory_add_padtemplate (GstElementFactory *factory,
   g_return_if_fail(templ != NULL);
 
   padtemplates = factory->padtemplates;
-  
+
+  gst_object_ref (GST_OBJECT (templ));
+
   while (padtemplates) {
     GstPadTemplate *oldtempl = GST_PADTEMPLATE (padtemplates->data);