diff --git a/gst/gstpad.c b/gst/gstpad.c
index bfee301f8e..d197d8035e 100644
--- a/gst/gstpad.c
+++ b/gst/gstpad.c
@@ -1205,7 +1205,7 @@ gst_pad_link_try (GstPadLink *link)
   
   ret = gst_pad_link_negotiate (link); 
   if (ret == GST_PAD_LINK_REFUSED) {
-    if (oldlink && !gst_pad_link_call_link_functions (oldlink))
+    if (oldlink && oldlink->caps && !gst_pad_link_call_link_functions (oldlink))
       g_warning ("pads don't accept old caps. We assume they did though");
     gst_pad_link_free (link);
     return ret;