diff --git a/gst/gstelement.c b/gst/gstelement.c
index 6a17d743b7..6bc013d8fd 100644
--- a/gst/gstelement.c
+++ b/gst/gstelement.c
@@ -1566,6 +1566,7 @@ gst_element_send_event (GstElement * element, GstEvent * event)
 
   oclass = GST_ELEMENT_GET_CLASS (element);
 
+  GST_STATE_LOCK (element);
   if (oclass->send_event) {
     GST_CAT_DEBUG (GST_CAT_ELEMENT_PADS, "send %s event on element %s",
         GST_EVENT_TYPE_NAME (event), GST_ELEMENT_NAME (element));
@@ -1573,6 +1574,7 @@ gst_element_send_event (GstElement * element, GstEvent * event)
   } else {
     gst_event_unref (event);
   }
+  GST_STATE_UNLOCK (element);
 
   return result;
 }