diff --git a/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegdec.c b/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegdec.c
index efab63a726..dc9e81f09b 100644
--- a/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegdec.c
+++ b/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegdec.c
@@ -281,9 +281,10 @@ gst_ffmpegdec_chain (GstPad    *pad,
   gint have_data;
 
   if (!ffmpegdec->opened) {
-    gst_element_error (GST_ELEMENT (ffmpegdec),
-		       "ffdec_%s: input format was not set before data-start",
-		       oclass->in_plugin->name);
+    gst_element_gerror(GST_ELEMENT (ffmpegdec), GST_ERROR_UNKNOWN,
+      g_strdup ("unconverted error, file a bug"),
+      g_strdup_printf("ffdec_%s: input format was not set before data-start",
+		       oclass->in_plugin->name));
     return;
   }
 
@@ -345,9 +346,10 @@ gst_ffmpegdec_chain (GstPad    *pad,
 					     ffmpegdec->context);
         if (caps == NULL ||
             gst_pad_try_set_caps (ffmpegdec->srcpad, caps) <= 0) {
-          gst_element_error (GST_ELEMENT (ffmpegdec),
-			     "Failed to link ffmpeg decoder (%s) to next element",
-			     oclass->in_plugin->name);
+          gst_element_gerror(GST_ELEMENT (ffmpegdec), GST_ERROR_UNKNOWN,
+            g_strdup ("unconverted error, file a bug"),
+            g_strdup_printf ("Failed to link ffmpeg decoder (%s) to next element",
+			     oclass->in_plugin->name));
           return;
         }
       }
diff --git a/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegdemux.c b/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegdemux.c
index 142ce54ce2..f68ee83ae4 100644
--- a/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegdemux.c
+++ b/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegdemux.c
@@ -212,8 +212,9 @@ gst_ffmpegdemux_loop (GstElement *element)
 					       ffmpegdemux->sinkpad),
 			      oclass->in_plugin, 0, NULL);
     if (res < 0) {
-      gst_element_error (GST_ELEMENT (ffmpegdemux),
-			 "Failed to open demuxer/file context");
+      gst_element_gerror(GST_ELEMENT (ffmpegdemux), GST_ERROR_UNKNOWN,
+        g_strdup ("unconverted error, file a bug"),
+        g_strdup_printf ("Failed to open demuxer/file context"));
       return;
     }
 
diff --git a/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegmux.c b/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegmux.c
index b789c9087d..8d370d7a5f 100644
--- a/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegmux.c
+++ b/ext/ffmpeg/gstffmpegmux.c
@@ -295,8 +295,9 @@ gst_ffmpegmux_loop (GstElement *element)
     if (url_fopen (&ffmpegmux->context->pb,
 		   ffmpegmux->context->filename,
 		   URL_WRONLY) < 0) {
-      gst_element_error (element,
-			 "Failed to open stream context in ffmux");
+      gst_element_gerror(element, GST_ERROR_UNKNOWN,
+        g_strdup ("unconverted error, file a bug"),
+        g_strdup_printf ("Failed to open stream context in ffmux"));
       return;
     }