diff --git a/gst/playback/gstdecodebin2.c b/gst/playback/gstdecodebin2.c
index 788b48155c..882ef54d7d 100644
--- a/gst/playback/gstdecodebin2.c
+++ b/gst/playback/gstdecodebin2.c
@@ -2203,9 +2203,6 @@ connect_pad (GstDecodeBin * dbin, GstElement * src, GstDecodePad * dpad,
       }
     }
 
-    /* link this element further */
-    connect_element (dbin, delem, chain);
-
     /* try to configure the subtitle encoding property when we can */
     pspec = g_object_class_find_property (G_OBJECT_GET_CLASS (element),
         "subtitle-encoding");
@@ -2302,6 +2299,9 @@ connect_pad (GstDecodeBin * dbin, GstElement * src, GstDecodePad * dpad,
       SUBTITLE_UNLOCK (dbin);
     }
 
+    /* link this element further */
+    connect_element (dbin, delem, chain);
+
     res = TRUE;
     break;
   }