diff --git a/ges/ges-smart-video-mixer.c b/ges/ges-smart-video-mixer.c
index 98e545aee5..3e939c6c57 100644
--- a/ges/ges-smart-video-mixer.c
+++ b/ges/ges-smart-video-mixer.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ ges_smart_mixer_get_mixer_pad (GESSmartMixer * self, GstPad ** mixerpad)
     return NULL;
 
   info = g_hash_table_lookup (self->pads_infos, sinkpad);
-  *mixerpad = info->mixer_pad;
+  *mixerpad = gst_object_ref (info->mixer_pad);
 
   return sinkpad;
 }