diff --git a/gst/gstbin.c b/gst/gstbin.c
index 7765f5e16a..2e0bec2549 100644
--- a/gst/gstbin.c
+++ b/gst/gstbin.c
@@ -500,16 +500,20 @@ gst_bin_real_destroy (GtkObject *object)
   GList *children;
   GstElement *child;
 
-  GST_DEBUG (0,"in gst_bin_real_destroy()\n");
+  GST_DEBUG (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING,"destroy()\n");
 
   children = bin->children;
   while (children) {
     child = GST_ELEMENT (children->data);
-    gst_element_destroy (child);
+    gst_object_unref (GST_OBJECT (child));
     children = g_list_next (children);
   }
 
   g_list_free (bin->children);
+  bin->children = NULL;
+  bin->numchildren = 0;
+
+  g_cond_free (bin->eoscond);
 
   if (GTK_OBJECT_CLASS (parent_class)->destroy)
     GTK_OBJECT_CLASS (parent_class)->destroy (object);
diff --git a/gst/gstelement.c b/gst/gstelement.c
index 7d8ede6960..4be905307a 100644
--- a/gst/gstelement.c
+++ b/gst/gstelement.c
@@ -894,6 +894,9 @@ gst_element_real_destroy (GtkObject *object)
   }
 
   g_list_free (element->pads);
+  element->pads = NULL;
+  element->numsrcpads = 0;
+  element->numsinkpads = 0;
 
   if (GTK_OBJECT_CLASS (parent_class)->destroy)
     GTK_OBJECT_CLASS (parent_class)->destroy (object);
diff --git a/gst/gstelementfactory.c b/gst/gstelementfactory.c
index 05d408e1ed..9c4bc42e7b 100644
--- a/gst/gstelementfactory.c
+++ b/gst/gstelementfactory.c
@@ -161,7 +161,6 @@ gst_elementfactory_create (GstElementFactory *factory,
   // create an instance of the element
   element = GST_ELEMENT(gtk_type_new(factory->type));
   g_assert(element != NULL);
-  gst_object_ref(GST_OBJECT(element));
 
   // attempt to set the elemenfactory class pointer if necessary
   oclass = GST_ELEMENT_CLASS(GTK_OBJECT(element)->klass);
diff --git a/gst/gstthread.c b/gst/gstthread.c
index 217dcb0905..45cb2cd006 100644
--- a/gst/gstthread.c
+++ b/gst/gstthread.c
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ gst_thread_get_arg (GtkObject *object,
  * Returns: The new thread
  */
 GstElement*
-gst_thread_new (guchar *name)
+gst_thread_new (const guchar *name)
 {
   return gst_elementfactory_make ("thread", name);
 }
diff --git a/gst/gstthread.h b/gst/gstthread.h
index 0d12703784..a8b275cb6d 100644
--- a/gst/gstthread.h
+++ b/gst/gstthread.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ struct _GstThreadClass {
 
 GtkType 	gst_thread_get_type	(void);
 
-GstElement*	gst_thread_new		(guchar *name);
+GstElement*	gst_thread_new		(const guchar *name);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }