diff --git a/gst/transcode/gsttranscodebin.c b/gst/transcode/gsttranscodebin.c
index 2df811f5ae..1a310af9e5 100644
--- a/gst/transcode/gsttranscodebin.c
+++ b/gst/transcode/gsttranscodebin.c
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ pad_added_cb (GstElement * decodebin, GstPad * pad, GstTranscodeBin * self)
               "sink-pad", GST_TYPE_PAD, sinkpad,
               "sink-caps", GST_TYPE_CAPS, othercaps, NULL));
 
-      gst_caps_unref (caps);
+      gst_clear_caps (&caps);
       if (othercaps)
         gst_caps_unref (othercaps);
     }