diff --git a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2object.c b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2object.c
index 51b0a1c29a..9e3212b78c 100644
--- a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2object.c
+++ b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2object.c
@@ -2482,6 +2482,21 @@ pool_failed:
   }
 }
 
+gboolean
+gst_v4l2_object_caps_equal (GstV4l2Object * v4l2object, GstCaps * caps)
+{
+  GstStructure *s;
+  GstCaps *oldcaps;
+
+  if (!v4l2object->pool)
+    return FALSE;
+
+  s = gst_buffer_pool_get_config (GST_BUFFER_POOL_CAST (v4l2object->pool));
+  gst_buffer_pool_config_get_params (s, &oldcaps, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+
+  return oldcaps && gst_caps_is_equal (caps, oldcaps);
+}
+
 gboolean
 gst_v4l2_object_unlock (GstV4l2Object * v4l2object)
 {
diff --git a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2object.h b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2object.h
index 54703e95c6..af58b610ae 100644
--- a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2object.h
+++ b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2object.h
@@ -227,6 +227,8 @@ GstStructure* gst_v4l2_object_v4l2fourcc_to_structure (guint32 fourcc);
 
 gboolean      gst_v4l2_object_set_format (GstV4l2Object *v4l2object, GstCaps * caps);
 
+gboolean      gst_v4l2_object_caps_equal  (GstV4l2Object * v4l2object, GstCaps * caps);
+
 gboolean      gst_v4l2_object_unlock      (GstV4l2Object *v4l2object);
 gboolean      gst_v4l2_object_unlock_stop (GstV4l2Object *v4l2object);
 
diff --git a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2sink.c b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2sink.c
index dc36ff78b6..b291aa8895 100644
--- a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2sink.c
+++ b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2sink.c
@@ -574,6 +574,10 @@ gst_v4l2sink_set_caps (GstBaseSink * bsink, GstCaps * caps)
     return FALSE;
   }
 
+  /* make sure the caps changed before doing anything */
+  if (gst_v4l2_object_caps_equal (obj, caps))
+    return TRUE;
+
   if (!gst_v4l2_object_stop (obj))
     goto stop_failed;
 
diff --git a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2src.c b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2src.c
index 28ab86aad8..9f5c92e23c 100644
--- a/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2src.c
+++ b/sys/v4l2/gstv4l2src.c
@@ -494,6 +494,10 @@ gst_v4l2src_set_caps (GstBaseSrc * src, GstCaps * caps)
   v4l2src = GST_V4L2SRC (src);
   obj = v4l2src->v4l2object;
 
+  /* make sure the caps changed before doing anything */
+  if (gst_v4l2_object_caps_equal (obj, caps))
+    return TRUE;
+
   /* make sure we stop capturing and dealloc buffers */
   if (!gst_v4l2_object_stop (obj))
     return FALSE;