diff --git a/ext/pulse/pulsesink.c b/ext/pulse/pulsesink.c
index cc9902cdc7..d18c52385b 100644
--- a/ext/pulse/pulsesink.c
+++ b/ext/pulse/pulsesink.c
@@ -183,6 +183,10 @@ gst_pulseringbuffer_class_init (GstPulseRingBufferClass * klass)
   gstringbuffer_class->stop = GST_DEBUG_FUNCPTR (gst_pulseringbuffer_stop);
 
   gstringbuffer_class->commit = GST_DEBUG_FUNCPTR (gst_pulseringbuffer_commit);
+
+  /* ref class from a thread-safe context to work around missing bit of
+   * thread-safety in GObject */
+  g_type_class_ref (GST_TYPE_PULSERING_BUFFER);
 }
 
 static void