diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gstdecodebin2.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gstdecodebin2.c
index 9610f8b7eb..9247625a30 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gstdecodebin2.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gstdecodebin2.c
@@ -4706,6 +4706,7 @@ retry:
   if (G_UNLIKELY (dbin->shutdown)) {
     GST_WARNING_OBJECT (dbin, "Currently, shutting down, aborting exposing");
     DYN_UNLOCK (dbin);
+    g_string_free (missing_plugin_details, TRUE);
     return FALSE;
   }
   DYN_UNLOCK (dbin);