diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gsturidecodebin3.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gsturidecodebin3.c
index 2bdd335160..f718388706 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gsturidecodebin3.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-base/gst/playback/gsturidecodebin3.c
@@ -1586,6 +1586,7 @@ gst_uri_decode_bin3_set_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
       dec->download = g_value_get_boolean (value);
       break;
     case PROP_DOWNLOAD_DIR:
+      g_free (dec->download_dir);
       dec->download_dir = g_value_dup_string (value);
       break;
     case PROP_USE_BUFFERING: