diff --git a/ext/gl/gstgltransformation.c b/ext/gl/gstgltransformation.c
index 4175c39e35..f112d9e13f 100644
--- a/ext/gl/gstgltransformation.c
+++ b/ext/gl/gstgltransformation.c
@@ -406,6 +406,7 @@ gst_gl_transformation_reset_gl (GstGLFilter * filter)
   }
 
   gst_object_unref (transformation->shader);
+  transformation->shader = NULL;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -425,6 +426,11 @@ gst_gl_transformation_init_shader (GstGLFilter * filter)
 {
   GstGLTransformation *transformation = GST_GL_TRANSFORMATION (filter);
 
+  if (transformation->shader) {
+    gst_object_unref (transformation->shader);
+    transformation->shader = NULL;
+  }
+
   if (gst_gl_context_get_gl_api (GST_GL_BASE_FILTER (filter)->context)) {
     /* blocking call, wait until the opengl thread has compiled the shader */
     return gst_gl_context_gen_shader (GST_GL_BASE_FILTER (filter)->context,