diff --git a/gst/gstpad.c b/gst/gstpad.c
index afc637b26f..19656a64aa 100644
--- a/gst/gstpad.c
+++ b/gst/gstpad.c
@@ -1126,14 +1126,14 @@ gst_pad_select(GstPad *nextpad, ...) {
 
 
 void
-gst_pad_set_private (GstPad *pad, gpointer private)
+gst_pad_set_element_private (GstPad *pad, gpointer private)
 {
-  pad->private = private;
+  pad->element_private = private;
 }
 
 gpointer
-gst_pad_get_private (GstPad *pad)
+gst_pad_get_element_private (GstPad *pad)
 {
-  return pad->private;
+  return pad->element_private;
 }
 
diff --git a/gst/gstpad.h b/gst/gstpad.h
index 7aac38bd21..3afd0550c5 100644
--- a/gst/gstpad.h
+++ b/gst/gstpad.h
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ struct _GstPad {
 
   gchar *name;
   GList *caps;
-  gpointer private;
+  gpointer element_private;
 
   cothread_state *threadstate;
 
@@ -183,8 +183,8 @@ gboolean 		gst_pad_check_compatibility	(GstPad *srcpad, GstPad *sinkpad);
 void 			gst_pad_set_name		(GstPad *pad, const gchar *name);
 const gchar*		gst_pad_get_name		(GstPad *pad);
 
-void			gst_pad_set_private		(GstPad *pad, gpointer private);
-gpointer		gst_pad_get_private		(GstPad *pad);
+void			gst_pad_set_element_private	(GstPad *pad, gpointer private);
+gpointer		gst_pad_get_element_private	(GstPad *pad);
 
 void 			gst_pad_set_parent		(GstPad *pad, GstObject *parent);
 GstObject*		gst_pad_get_parent		(GstPad *pad);