diff --git a/gst/wavenc/gstwavenc.c b/gst/wavenc/gstwavenc.c
index c3b0c57383..7db0e188fa 100644
--- a/gst/wavenc/gstwavenc.c
+++ b/gst/wavenc/gstwavenc.c
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ gst_wavenc_sink_setcaps (GstPad * pad, GstCaps * caps)
 
   wavenc = GST_WAVENC (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
 
-  if (wavenc->sent_header) {
+  if (wavenc->sent_header && !gst_caps_can_intersect (caps, GST_PAD_CAPS (pad))) {
     GST_WARNING_OBJECT (wavenc, "cannot change format in middle of stream");
     goto fail;
   }