diff --git a/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsink.c b/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsink.c
index 797691423a..260e8e3c4a 100644
--- a/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsink.c
+++ b/gst/multifile/gstsplitmuxsink.c
@@ -1610,6 +1610,8 @@ start_next_fragment (GstSplitMuxSink * splitmux, MqStreamCtx * ctx)
               GINT_TO_POINTER (2));
         }
       }
+      gst_object_unref (muxer);
+      gst_object_unref (sink);
       muxer = new_muxer;
       sink = new_sink;
       gst_object_ref (muxer);