diff --git a/validate/tests/check/validate/monitoring.c b/validate/tests/check/validate/monitoring.c
index 12cf8f4d13..dfb21476ea 100644
--- a/validate/tests/check/validate/monitoring.c
+++ b/validate/tests/check/validate/monitoring.c
@@ -99,6 +99,10 @@ gst_validate_suite (void)
   TCase *tc_chain = tcase_create ("monitoring");
   suite_add_tcase (s, tc_chain);
 
+  if (atexit (gst_validate_deinit) != 0) {
+    GST_ERROR ("failed to set gst_validate_deinit as exit function");
+  }
+
   tcase_add_test (tc_chain, monitors_added);
   tcase_add_test (tc_chain, monitors_cleanup);
 
diff --git a/validate/tests/check/validate/overrides.c b/validate/tests/check/validate/overrides.c
index d4467d30df..d8d4d4133d 100644
--- a/validate/tests/check/validate/overrides.c
+++ b/validate/tests/check/validate/overrides.c
@@ -99,6 +99,10 @@ gst_validate_suite (void)
   TCase *tc_chain = tcase_create ("registry");
   suite_add_tcase (s, tc_chain);
 
+  if (atexit (gst_validate_deinit) != 0) {
+    GST_ERROR ("failed to set gst_validate_deinit as exit function");
+  }
+
   g_setenv ("GST_VALIDATE_REPORTING_DETAILS", "all", TRUE);
   gst_validate_init ();
   tcase_add_test (tc_chain, check_text_overrides);
diff --git a/validate/tests/check/validate/padmonitor.c b/validate/tests/check/validate/padmonitor.c
index f983e72e53..86a58fed61 100644
--- a/validate/tests/check/validate/padmonitor.c
+++ b/validate/tests/check/validate/padmonitor.c
@@ -1037,6 +1037,10 @@ gst_validate_suite (void)
   TCase *tc_chain = tcase_create ("padmonitor");
   suite_add_tcase (s, tc_chain);
 
+  if (atexit (gst_validate_deinit) != 0) {
+    GST_ERROR ("failed to set gst_validate_deinit as exit function");
+  }
+
   fake_elements_register ();
 
   tcase_add_test (tc_chain, buffer_before_segment);
diff --git a/validate/tests/check/validate/reporting.c b/validate/tests/check/validate/reporting.c
index 49c58536d9..b20d5d7399 100644
--- a/validate/tests/check/validate/reporting.c
+++ b/validate/tests/check/validate/reporting.c
@@ -257,6 +257,10 @@ gst_validate_suite (void)
   TCase *tc_chain = tcase_create ("reporting");
   suite_add_tcase (s, tc_chain);
 
+  if (atexit (gst_validate_deinit) != 0) {
+    GST_ERROR ("failed to set gst_validate_deinit as exit function");
+  }
+
   fake_elements_register ();
 
   tcase_add_test (tc_chain, test_report_levels_all);