diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 11715e4e2d..273d21ad63 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+2006-09-22  Stefan Kost  <ensonic@users.sf.net>
+
+	* libs/gst/controller/gstcontroller.c: (gst_controller_new_valist),
+	(gst_controller_new_list):
+	  Ref instances when returning them again (fixes #357180)
+
 2006-09-22  Tim-Philipp Müller  <tim at centricular dot net>
 
 	* gst/gstghostpad.c: (gst_ghost_pad_set_target):
diff --git a/libs/gst/controller/gstcontroller.c b/libs/gst/controller/gstcontroller.c
index ade51c0530..fcb80e10a2 100644
--- a/libs/gst/controller/gstcontroller.c
+++ b/libs/gst/controller/gstcontroller.c
@@ -486,6 +486,7 @@ gst_controller_new_valist (GObject * object, va_list var_args)
           /* store the controller */
           g_object_set_qdata (object, __gst_controller_key, self);
         } else {
+          g_object_ref (self);
           GST_INFO ("returning existing controller");
         }
         self->properties = g_list_prepend (self->properties, prop);
@@ -538,6 +539,7 @@ gst_controller_new_list (GObject * object, GList * list)
           /* store the controller */
           g_object_set_qdata (object, __gst_controller_key, self);
         } else {
+          g_object_ref (self);
           GST_INFO ("returning existing controller");
         }
         self->properties = g_list_prepend (self->properties, prop);