diff --git a/gst/vaapi/gstvaapipluginbase.c b/gst/vaapi/gstvaapipluginbase.c
index 625a49b759..189546bfb2 100644
--- a/gst/vaapi/gstvaapipluginbase.c
+++ b/gst/vaapi/gstvaapipluginbase.c
@@ -321,10 +321,8 @@ gst_vaapi_plugin_base_close (GstVaapiPluginBase * plugin)
 
   gst_caps_replace (&plugin->sinkpad_caps, NULL);
   gst_video_info_init (&plugin->sinkpad_info);
-  if (plugin->sinkpad_buffer_pool) {
-    gst_object_unref (plugin->sinkpad_buffer_pool);
-    plugin->sinkpad_buffer_pool = NULL;
-  }
+
+  g_clear_object (&plugin->sinkpad_buffer_pool);
   g_clear_object (&plugin->srcpad_buffer_pool);
 
   g_clear_object (&plugin->sinkpad_allocator);