diff --git a/ext/jack/gstjack.c b/ext/jack/gstjack.c
index 1afab02a6d..2f6affcc25 100644
--- a/ext/jack/gstjack.c
+++ b/ext/jack/gstjack.c
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ gst_jack_class_init (GstJackClass * klass)
   element_class = (GstElementClass *) klass;
 
   if (parent_class == NULL)
-    parent_class = g_type_class_ref (GST_TYPE_ELEMENT);
+    parent_class = g_type_class_peek_parent (klass);
 
   object_class->get_property = gst_jack_get_property;
   object_class->set_property = gst_jack_set_property;
diff --git a/ext/jack/gstjackbin.c b/ext/jack/gstjackbin.c
index 1d79b72e6f..7b219c7068 100644
--- a/ext/jack/gstjackbin.c
+++ b/ext/jack/gstjackbin.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ gst_jack_bin_class_init (GstJackBinClass * klass)
   object_class = (GObjectClass *) klass;
   element_class = (GstElementClass *) klass;
 
-  parent_class = g_type_class_ref (GST_TYPE_BIN);
+  parent_class = g_type_class_peek_parent (klass);
 
   element_class->change_state = gst_jack_bin_change_state;
 }