diff --git a/gst/mpegtsmux/tsmux/tsmux.c b/gst/mpegtsmux/tsmux/tsmux.c
index 139c9467e4..92625b9728 100644
--- a/gst/mpegtsmux/tsmux/tsmux.c
+++ b/gst/mpegtsmux/tsmux/tsmux.c
@@ -1082,6 +1082,8 @@ tsmux_section_write_packet (gpointer unused_arg,
             payload_len) >= 4) {
       /* enough space */
       extra_alloc_bytes = 4;
+    } else {
+      extra_alloc_bytes = 0;
     }
     packet_buffer = gst_buffer_copy_region (section_buffer, GST_BUFFER_COPY_ALL,
         payload_written, payload_len + extra_alloc_bytes);