diff --git a/tests/check/elements/dtls.c b/tests/check/elements/dtls.c
index 9068ba56fe..74149d2116 100644
--- a/tests/check/elements/dtls.c
+++ b/tests/check/elements/dtls.c
@@ -140,12 +140,13 @@ GST_START_TEST (test_data_transfer)
   g_object_set (c_enc, "connection-id", "client", "is-client", TRUE, NULL);
   g_signal_connect (c_enc, "on-key-received", G_CALLBACK (_on_key_received),
       NULL);
-  gst_element_set_state (c_enc, GST_STATE_PAUSED);
   gst_bin_add (GST_BIN (s_bin), c_enc);
 
   gst_element_link_pads (s_enc, "src", c_dec, "sink");
   gst_element_link_pads (c_enc, "src", s_dec, "sink");
 
+  gst_element_set_state (c_enc, GST_STATE_PAUSED);
+
   target = gst_element_get_request_pad (c_dec, "src");
   ghost = gst_ghost_pad_new ("src", target);
   gst_element_add_pad (s_bin, ghost);