diff --git a/plugins/nle/nleoperation.c b/plugins/nle/nleoperation.c
index 9387de01fd..686c7b47c9 100644
--- a/plugins/nle/nleoperation.c
+++ b/plugins/nle/nleoperation.c
@@ -785,6 +785,8 @@ nle_operation_hard_cleanup (NleOperation * operation)
     }
   }
   nle_object_cleanup (NLE_OBJECT (operation));
+
+  gst_iterator_free (pads);
 }