diff --git a/ext/ogg/gstoggmux.c b/ext/ogg/gstoggmux.c
index 01c1ce5456..7fa1413fe2 100644
--- a/ext/ogg/gstoggmux.c
+++ b/ext/ogg/gstoggmux.c
@@ -281,16 +281,14 @@ gst_ogg_mux_ogg_pad_destroy_notify (GstCollectData * data)
 }
 
 static GstPadLinkReturn
-gst_ogg_mux_sinkconnect (GstPad * pad, GstPad * peer)
+gst_ogg_mux_sinkconnect (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent, GstPad * peer)
 {
   GstOggMux *ogg_mux;
 
-  ogg_mux = GST_OGG_MUX (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  ogg_mux = GST_OGG_MUX (parent);
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (ogg_mux, "sinkconnect triggered on %s", GST_PAD_NAME (pad));
 
-  gst_object_unref (ogg_mux);
-
   return GST_PAD_LINK_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/ext/pango/gstbasetextoverlay.c b/ext/pango/gstbasetextoverlay.c
index 9a461939dc..7db318f64c 100644
--- a/ext/pango/gstbasetextoverlay.c
+++ b/ext/pango/gstbasetextoverlay.c
@@ -332,8 +332,9 @@ static gboolean gst_base_text_overlay_text_event (GstPad * pad,
 static GstFlowReturn gst_base_text_overlay_text_chain (GstPad * pad,
     GstObject * parent, GstBuffer * buffer);
 static GstPadLinkReturn gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_link (GstPad * pad,
-    GstPad * peer);
-static void gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_unlink (GstPad * pad);
+    GstObject * parent, GstPad * peer);
+static void gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_unlink (GstPad * pad,
+    GstObject * parent);
 static void gst_base_text_overlay_pop_text (GstBaseTextOverlay * overlay);
 static void gst_base_text_overlay_update_render_mode (GstBaseTextOverlay *
     overlay);
@@ -1680,11 +1681,12 @@ invalid_frame:
 }
 
 static GstPadLinkReturn
-gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_link (GstPad * pad, GstPad * peer)
+gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_link (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstPad * peer)
 {
   GstBaseTextOverlay *overlay;
 
-  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (parent);
   if (G_UNLIKELY (!overlay))
     return GST_PAD_LINK_REFUSED;
 
@@ -1692,18 +1694,16 @@ gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_link (GstPad * pad, GstPad * peer)
 
   overlay->text_linked = TRUE;
 
-  gst_object_unref (overlay);
-
   return GST_PAD_LINK_OK;
 }
 
 static void
-gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_unlink (GstPad * pad)
+gst_base_text_overlay_text_pad_unlink (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent)
 {
   GstBaseTextOverlay *overlay;
 
   /* don't use gst_pad_get_parent() here, will deadlock */
-  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad));
+  overlay = GST_BASE_TEXT_OVERLAY (parent);
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (overlay, "Text pad unlinked");
 
diff --git a/gst/playback/gstsubtitleoverlay.c b/gst/playback/gstsubtitleoverlay.c
index 640be6be83..e523f5a5bb 100644
--- a/gst/playback/gstsubtitleoverlay.c
+++ b/gst/playback/gstsubtitleoverlay.c
@@ -1993,9 +1993,10 @@ out:
 }
 
 static GstPadLinkReturn
-gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_link (GstPad * pad, GstPad * peer)
+gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_link (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent,
+    GstPad * peer)
 {
-  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
+  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (parent);
   GstCaps *caps;
 
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (pad, "Linking pad to peer %" GST_PTR_FORMAT, peer);
@@ -2022,16 +2023,13 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_link (GstPad * pad, GstPad * peer)
     gst_caps_unref (caps);
   }
 
-  gst_object_unref (self);
-
   return GST_PAD_LINK_OK;
 }
 
 static void
-gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_unlink (GstPad * pad)
+gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_unlink (GstPad * pad, GstObject * parent)
 {
-  GstSubtitleOverlay *self =
-      GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (gst_object_ref (GST_PAD_PARENT (pad)));
+  GstSubtitleOverlay *self = GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY (parent);
 
   /* FIXME: Can't use gst_pad_get_parent() here because this is called with
    * the object lock from state changes
@@ -2046,8 +2044,6 @@ gst_subtitle_overlay_subtitle_sink_unlink (GstPad * pad)
   block_subtitle (self);
   block_video (self);
   GST_SUBTITLE_OVERLAY_UNLOCK (self);
-
-  gst_object_unref (self);
 }
 
 static gboolean