diff --git a/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c b/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c
index 78c5c86c77..19a9ee07b7 100644
--- a/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c
+++ b/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c
@@ -495,6 +495,7 @@ subroutine_error:
   {
     GST_ERROR_OBJECT (obj, "failed to query formats");
     snd_pcm_hw_params_free (hw_params);
+    gst_caps_unref (caps);
     return NULL;
   }
 }