diff --git a/ext/dash/gstmpdparser.c b/ext/dash/gstmpdparser.c
index a6f12f1085..b1e30fd774 100644
--- a/ext/dash/gstmpdparser.c
+++ b/ext/dash/gstmpdparser.c
@@ -3477,11 +3477,16 @@ gst_mpd_client_get_segment_index_at_time (GstMpdClient * client,
     return -1;
 
   if (stream_period && stream_period->period) {
-    /* intentionally not unreffing avail_start */
-    avail_start = gst_mpd_client_add_time_difference (avail_start,
+    GstDateTime *t;
+
+    t = gst_mpd_client_add_time_difference (avail_start,
         stream_period->period->start * 1000);
+    gst_date_time_unref (avail_start);
+    avail_start = t;
   }
   diff = gst_mpd_client_calculate_time_difference (avail_start, time);
+  gst_date_time_unref (avail_start);
+
   if (diff < 0)
     return -2;
   if (diff > gst_mpd_client_get_media_presentation_duration (client))