diff --git a/gst/gstobject.c b/gst/gstobject.c
index b9cecbe348..93866fc2a7 100644
--- a/gst/gstobject.c
+++ b/gst/gstobject.c
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ gst_object_init (GstObject *object)
 {
   object->lock = g_mutex_new();
   object->parent = NULL;
+  object->name = NULL;
 
   object->flags = 0;
   GST_FLAG_SET (object, GST_FLOATING);