diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstpad.c b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstpad.c
index 4d4f2b3d96..06b4552f6f 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstpad.c
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstpad.c
@@ -6285,6 +6285,7 @@ gst_pad_start_task (GstPad * pad, GstTaskFunction func, gpointer user_data,
   task = GST_PAD_TASK (pad);
   if (task == NULL) {
     task = gst_task_new (func, user_data, notify);
+    notify = NULL;
     gst_task_set_lock (task, GST_PAD_GET_STREAM_LOCK (pad));
     gst_task_set_enter_callback (task, pad_enter_thread, pad, NULL);
     gst_task_set_leave_callback (task, pad_leave_thread, pad, NULL);
@@ -6306,6 +6307,10 @@ gst_pad_start_task (GstPad * pad, GstTaskFunction func, gpointer user_data,
   res = gst_task_set_state (task, GST_TASK_STARTED);
   GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (pad);
 
+  /* free user_data if it wasn't used for gst_task_new */
+  if (notify)
+    notify (user_data);
+
   return res;
 
   /* ERRORS */