diff --git a/subprojects/gst-devtools/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-scenario.c b/subprojects/gst-devtools/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-scenario.c
index 2bca7d3bb1..17c97167bd 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-devtools/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-scenario.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-devtools/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-scenario.c
@@ -6259,8 +6259,10 @@ gst_validate_action_set_done (GstValidateAction * action)
   g_assert (!action->priv->pending_set_done);
   action->priv->pending_set_done = TRUE;
 
-  if (scenario && scenario->priv->wait_message_action == action)
+  if (scenario && scenario->priv->wait_message_action == action) {
+    gst_validate_action_unref (scenario->priv->wait_message_action);
     scenario->priv->wait_message_action = NULL;
+  }
   gst_clear_object (&scenario);
 
   g_main_context_invoke_full (action->priv->context,