diff --git a/gst/gstpad.c b/gst/gstpad.c
index dca4c4f3c1..78aa4a2e8c 100644
--- a/gst/gstpad.c
+++ b/gst/gstpad.c
@@ -2765,17 +2765,23 @@ setcaps_failed:
 static GstFlowReturn
 gst_pad_configure_sink (GstPad * pad, GstCaps * caps)
 {
+  GstCaps *templ;
+
   /* See if pad accepts the caps */
-  if (!gst_caps_can_intersect (caps, gst_pad_get_pad_template_caps (pad)))
+  templ = gst_pad_get_pad_template_caps (pad);
+  if (!gst_caps_can_intersect (caps, templ))
     goto not_accepted;
 
   if (!gst_pad_call_setcaps (pad, caps))
     goto not_accepted;
 
+  gst_caps_unref (templ);
+
   return GST_FLOW_OK;
 
 not_accepted:
   {
+    gst_caps_unref (templ);
     GST_CAT_DEBUG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_CAPS, pad,
         "caps %" GST_PTR_FORMAT " not accepted", caps);
     return GST_FLOW_NOT_NEGOTIATED;
diff --git a/gst/gstutils.c b/gst/gstutils.c
index 9e4d31e083..7c35475a2f 100644
--- a/gst/gstutils.c
+++ b/gst/gstutils.c
@@ -1199,9 +1199,9 @@ gst_element_get_compatible_pad (GstElement * element, GstPad * pad,
   /* requesting is a little crazy, we need a template. Let's create one */
   /* FIXME: why not gst_pad_get_pad_template (pad); */
   templcaps = gst_pad_get_caps (pad, NULL);
-
   templ = gst_pad_template_new ((gchar *) GST_PAD_NAME (pad),
       GST_PAD_DIRECTION (pad), GST_PAD_ALWAYS, templcaps);
+  gst_caps_unref (templcaps);
 
   foundpad = gst_element_request_compatible_pad (element, templ);
   gst_object_unref (templ);
@@ -1844,8 +1844,11 @@ gst_element_link_pads_full (GstElement * src, const gchar * srcpadname,
           desttempl = (GstPadTemplate *) l->data;
           if (desttempl->presence == GST_PAD_REQUEST &&
               desttempl->direction != srctempl->direction) {
-            if (gst_caps_is_always_compatible (gst_pad_template_get_caps
-                    (srctempl), gst_pad_template_get_caps (desttempl))) {
+            GstCaps *srccaps, *destcaps;
+
+            srccaps = gst_pad_template_get_caps (srctempl);
+            destcaps = gst_pad_template_get_caps (desttempl);
+            if (gst_caps_is_always_compatible (srccaps, destcaps)) {
               srcpad =
                   gst_element_request_pad (src, srctempl,
                   srctempl->name_template, NULL);
@@ -1859,6 +1862,8 @@ gst_element_link_pads_full (GstElement * src, const gchar * srcpadname,
                     GST_DEBUG_PAD_NAME (srcpad), GST_DEBUG_PAD_NAME (destpad));
                 gst_object_unref (srcpad);
                 gst_object_unref (destpad);
+                gst_caps_unref (srccaps);
+                gst_caps_unref (destcaps);
                 return TRUE;
               }
               /* it failed, so we release the request pads */
@@ -1867,6 +1872,8 @@ gst_element_link_pads_full (GstElement * src, const gchar * srcpadname,
               if (destpad)
                 gst_element_release_request_pad (dest, destpad);
             }
+            gst_caps_unref (srccaps);
+            gst_caps_unref (destcaps);
           }
         }
       }