diff --git a/gst/gstbuffer.h b/gst/gstbuffer.h
index e9e6287e1d..ca5d10c983 100644
--- a/gst/gstbuffer.h
+++ b/gst/gstbuffer.h
@@ -146,10 +146,10 @@ typedef struct _GstBufferClass GstBufferClass;
  * @buf: a #GstBuffer.
  *
  * A pointer to a function that will be called on the buffer's malloc_data when
- * this buffer is finalized. Defaults to g_free() if NULL.
+ * this buffer is finalized. Defaults to g_free().
  *
  * Note that the free function only affects the buffer's malloc_data; if the
- * buffer's malloc_data is NULL, the function will not be called.
+ * buffer's malloc_data is %NULL, the function will not be called.
  *
  * Since: 0.10.22
  */
diff --git a/gst/gstghostpad.c b/gst/gstghostpad.c
index 7eb1ce0316..00452ef5f7 100644
--- a/gst/gstghostpad.c
+++ b/gst/gstghostpad.c
@@ -816,6 +816,8 @@ gst_ghost_pad_construct (GstGhostPad * gpad)
     internal =
         g_object_new (GST_TYPE_PROXY_PAD, "name", NULL,
         "direction", otherdir, "template", templ, NULL);
+    /* release ref obtained via g_object_get */
+    gst_object_unref (templ);
   } else {
     internal =
         g_object_new (GST_TYPE_PROXY_PAD, "name", NULL,