diff --git a/gst/gstcaps.c b/gst/gstcaps.c
index 88dead676e..09c0f46170 100644
--- a/gst/gstcaps.c
+++ b/gst/gstcaps.c
@@ -232,6 +232,30 @@ gst_caps_new_any (void)
   return caps;
 }
 
+/**
+ * gst_caps_new_empty_simple:
+ * @media_type: the media type of the structure
+ *
+ * Creates a new #GstCaps that contains one #GstStructure with name
+ * @media_type.
+ * Caller is responsible for unreffing the returned caps.
+ *
+ * Returns: (transfer full): the new #GstCaps
+ */
+GstCaps *
+gst_caps_new_empty_simple (const char *media_type)
+{
+  GstCaps *caps;
+  GstStructure *structure;
+
+  caps = gst_caps_new_empty ();
+  structure = gst_structure_empty_new (media_type);
+  if (structure)
+    gst_caps_append_structure_unchecked (caps, structure);
+
+  return caps;
+}
+
 /**
  * gst_caps_new_simple:
  * @media_type: the media type of the structure
diff --git a/gst/gstcaps.h b/gst/gstcaps.h
index fb224f8cf1..9101a877ba 100644
--- a/gst/gstcaps.h
+++ b/gst/gstcaps.h
@@ -340,6 +340,7 @@ GType             gst_caps_get_type                (void);
 
 GstCaps *         gst_caps_new_empty               (void);
 GstCaps *         gst_caps_new_any                 (void);
+GstCaps *         gst_caps_new_empty_simple        (const char    *media_type);
 GstCaps *         gst_caps_new_simple              (const char    *media_type,
                                                     const char    *fieldname,
                                                     ...) G_GNUC_NULL_TERMINATED;