diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gstdecodebin3.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gstdecodebin3.c
index 7e7fec7ad5..a758e977bb 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gstdecodebin3.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gstdecodebin3.c
@@ -949,6 +949,7 @@ remove_candidate_decoder (GstDecodebin3 * dbin, CandidateDecoder * candidate)
       g_list_remove (dbin->candidate_decoders, candidate);
   if (candidate->error)
     gst_message_unref (candidate->error);
+  g_free (candidate);
   GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (dbin);
 }