diff --git a/ext/assrender/gstassrender.c b/ext/assrender/gstassrender.c
index e6d31985b6..d921ae4b1f 100644
--- a/ext/assrender/gstassrender.c
+++ b/ext/assrender/gstassrender.c
@@ -113,6 +113,13 @@ static GstStateChangeReturn gst_ass_render_change_state (GstElement * element,
 
 #define gst_ass_render_parent_class parent_class
 G_DEFINE_TYPE (GstAssRender, gst_ass_render, GST_TYPE_ELEMENT);
+#define _do_init \
+  GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_INIT (gst_ass_render_debug, "assrender", \
+      0, "ASS/SSA subtitle renderer");\
+  GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_INIT (gst_ass_render_lib_debug, "assrender_library",\
+      0, "ASS/SSA subtitle renderer library");
+GST_ELEMENT_REGISTER_DEFINE_WITH_CODE (assrender, "assrender",
+    GST_RANK_PRIMARY, GST_TYPE_ASS_RENDER, _do_init);
 
 static GstCaps *gst_ass_render_get_videosink_caps (GstPad * pad,
     GstAssRender * render, GstCaps * filter);
@@ -1873,13 +1880,7 @@ gst_ass_render_event_text (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstEvent * event)
 static gboolean
 plugin_init (GstPlugin * plugin)
 {
-  GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_INIT (gst_ass_render_debug, "assrender",
-      0, "ASS/SSA subtitle renderer");
-  GST_DEBUG_CATEGORY_INIT (gst_ass_render_lib_debug, "assrender_library",
-      0, "ASS/SSA subtitle renderer library");
-
-  return gst_element_register (plugin, "assrender",
-      GST_RANK_PRIMARY, GST_TYPE_ASS_RENDER);
+  return GST_ELEMENT_REGISTER (assrender, plugin);
 }
 
 GST_PLUGIN_DEFINE (GST_VERSION_MAJOR,
diff --git a/ext/assrender/gstassrender.h b/ext/assrender/gstassrender.h
index 0a03b6ab52..9c385f47e7 100644
--- a/ext/assrender/gstassrender.h
+++ b/ext/assrender/gstassrender.h
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ struct _GstAssRenderClass
 
 GType gst_ass_render_get_type (void);
 
+GST_ELEMENT_REGISTER_DECLARE (assrender);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif