diff --git a/gst/ac3parse/gstac3parse.c b/gst/ac3parse/gstac3parse.c
index 3bf40b48dd..4ff4fbd02b 100644
--- a/gst/ac3parse/gstac3parse.c
+++ b/gst/ac3parse/gstac3parse.c
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ gst_ac3parse_chain (GstPad *pad, GstBuffer *buf)
   /* deal with partial frame from previous buffer */
   if (ac3parse->partialbuf) {
 
-    ac3parse->partialbuf = gst_buffer_append(ac3parse->partialbuf, buf);;
+    ac3parse->partialbuf = gst_buffer_merge(ac3parse->partialbuf, buf);;
     /* and the one we received.. */
     gst_buffer_unref(buf);
   }