diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 4f4bd6dbe7..784609d36a 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+2007-03-08  Jan Schmidt  <thaytan@mad.scientist.com>
+
+	* tests/check/elements/alsa.c: (GST_START_TEST):
+	Unref the mixer if the state change fails too (if the
+	alsa devices are inaccessible, for example)
+
 2007-03-08  Jan Schmidt  <thaytan@mad.scientist.com>
 
 	* tests/check/Makefile.am:
diff --git a/tests/check/elements/alsa.c b/tests/check/elements/alsa.c
index c23f7a5469..ddd95c7321 100644
--- a/tests/check/elements/alsa.c
+++ b/tests/check/elements/alsa.c
@@ -81,8 +81,10 @@ GST_START_TEST (test_alsa_mixer_track)
   fail_unless (mixer != NULL, "Failed to create 'alsamixer' element!");
 
   state_ret = gst_element_set_state (mixer, GST_STATE_READY);
-  if (state_ret != GST_STATE_CHANGE_SUCCESS)
+  if (state_ret != GST_STATE_CHANGE_SUCCESS) {
+    gst_object_unref (mixer);
     return;
+  }
 
   GST_LOG ("opened alsamixer");
   fail_unless (GST_IS_MIXER (mixer), "is not a GstMixer?!");