diff --git a/gst/elements/gstelements.c b/gst/elements/gstelements.c
index 366de28356..63f857fe5f 100644
--- a/gst/elements/gstelements.c
+++ b/gst/elements/gstelements.c
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ GstPlugin *plugin_init(GModule *module) {
   GstElementFactory *factory;
   int i = 0;
 
+  /* we depend on having the usual types loaded first */
+  gst_plugin_load("gsttypes");
+
   plugin = gst_plugin_new("gstelements");
   g_return_val_if_fail(plugin != NULL,NULL);
 
diff --git a/plugins/elements/gstelements.c b/plugins/elements/gstelements.c
index 366de28356..63f857fe5f 100644
--- a/plugins/elements/gstelements.c
+++ b/plugins/elements/gstelements.c
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ GstPlugin *plugin_init(GModule *module) {
   GstElementFactory *factory;
   int i = 0;
 
+  /* we depend on having the usual types loaded first */
+  gst_plugin_load("gsttypes");
+
   plugin = gst_plugin_new("gstelements");
   g_return_val_if_fail(plugin != NULL,NULL);