diff --git a/gst/valve/gstvalve.c b/gst/valve/gstvalve.c
index 4192074e5f..977a4afa02 100644
--- a/gst/valve/gstvalve.c
+++ b/gst/valve/gstvalve.c
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ gst_valve_get_property (GObject * object,
 static GstFlowReturn
 gst_valve_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
 {
-  GstValve *valve = GST_VALVE (gst_pad_get_parent_element (pad));
+  GstValve *valve = GST_VALVE (GST_OBJECT_PARENT (pad));
   GstFlowReturn ret = GST_FLOW_OK;
 
   if (g_atomic_int_get (&valve->drop)) {
@@ -202,8 +202,6 @@ gst_valve_chain (GstPad * pad, GstBuffer * buffer)
   if (g_atomic_int_get (&valve->drop))
     ret = GST_FLOW_OK;
 
-  gst_object_unref (valve);
-
   return ret;
 }