diff --git a/sys/ximage/ximagesink.c b/sys/ximage/ximagesink.c
index 51205dc421..1ef50ee73d 100644
--- a/sys/ximage/ximagesink.c
+++ b/sys/ximage/ximagesink.c
@@ -1185,6 +1185,7 @@ activate_failed:
   {
     GST_ERROR_OBJECT (ximagesink, "failed to activate bufferpool.");
     g_mutex_unlock (ximagesink->flow_lock);
+    gst_object_unref (newpool);
     return FALSE;
   }
 }
diff --git a/sys/xvimage/xvimagesink.c b/sys/xvimage/xvimagesink.c
index 333cd52d84..33f54ea3e6 100644
--- a/sys/xvimage/xvimagesink.c
+++ b/sys/xvimage/xvimagesink.c
@@ -1745,6 +1745,7 @@ activate_failed:
   {
     GST_ERROR_OBJECT (xvimagesink, "failed to activate bufferpool.");
     g_mutex_unlock (xvimagesink->flow_lock);
+    gst_object_unref (newpool);
     return FALSE;
   }
 }