diff --git a/gst/alpha/gstalpha.c b/gst/alpha/gstalpha.c
index e3fc649a69..a9a75dcd63 100644
--- a/gst/alpha/gstalpha.c
+++ b/gst/alpha/gstalpha.c
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ static void gst_alpha_finalize (GObject * object);
 
 #define gst_alpha_parent_class parent_class
 G_DEFINE_TYPE (GstAlpha, gst_alpha, GST_TYPE_VIDEO_FILTER);
+GST_ELEMENT_REGISTER_DEFINE (alpha, "alpha", GST_RANK_NONE, GST_TYPE_ALPHA);
 
 #define GST_TYPE_ALPHA_METHOD (gst_alpha_method_get_type())
 static GType
@@ -2606,7 +2607,7 @@ not_negotiated:
 static gboolean
 plugin_init (GstPlugin * plugin)
 {
-  return gst_element_register (plugin, "alpha", GST_RANK_NONE, GST_TYPE_ALPHA);
+  return GST_ELEMENT_REGISTER (alpha, plugin);
 }
 
 GST_PLUGIN_DEFINE (GST_VERSION_MAJOR,
diff --git a/gst/alpha/gstalpha.h b/gst/alpha/gstalpha.h
index 48ee36f751..b0a61bc7c7 100644
--- a/gst/alpha/gstalpha.h
+++ b/gst/alpha/gstalpha.h
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ struct _GstAlpha
   guint noise_level2;
 };
 
+GST_ELEMENT_REGISTER_DECLARE (alpha);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __GST_ALPHA_H__ */