diff --git a/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/descriptions.c b/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/descriptions.c
index 8b372c2968..6e83f84979 100644
--- a/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/descriptions.c
+++ b/gst-libs/gst/pbutils/descriptions.c
@@ -302,6 +302,8 @@ format_info_get_desc (const FormatInfo * info, const GstCaps * caps)
     const GstVideoFormatInfo *finfo;
 
     str = gst_structure_get_string (s, "format");
+    if (str == NULL)
+      return g_strdup (_("Uncompressed video"));
     format = gst_video_format_from_string (str);
     if (format == GST_VIDEO_FORMAT_UNKNOWN)
       return g_strdup (_("Uncompressed video"));