diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/closedcaption/gstccconverter.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/closedcaption/gstccconverter.c
index 08a1e7fd9a..ccf912fd25 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/closedcaption/gstccconverter.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/closedcaption/gstccconverter.c
@@ -351,7 +351,6 @@ gst_cc_converter_transform_caps (GstBaseTransform * base,
 
     tmp = gst_caps_intersect_full (filter, res, GST_CAPS_INTERSECT_FIRST);
     gst_caps_unref (res);
-    gst_caps_unref (filter);
     res = tmp;
   }
 
@@ -362,6 +361,8 @@ gst_cc_converter_transform_caps (GstBaseTransform * base,
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (self, "filter %" GST_PTR_FORMAT, filter);
   GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (self, "to %" GST_PTR_FORMAT, res);
 
+  gst_clear_caps (&filter);
+
   return res;
 }