diff --git a/tests/examples/overlay/gtk-videooverlay.c b/tests/examples/overlay/gtk-videooverlay.c
index e49092fc97..f99baa8700 100644
--- a/tests/examples/overlay/gtk-videooverlay.c
+++ b/tests/examples/overlay/gtk-videooverlay.c
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ find_video_sink (void)
       return sink;
 
     gst_element_set_state (sink, GST_STATE_NULL);
+    gst_object_unref (sink);
   }
-  gst_object_unref (sink);
 
   if ((sink = gst_element_factory_make ("ximagesink", NULL))) {
     sret = gst_element_set_state (sink, GST_STATE_READY);
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ find_video_sink (void)
       return sink;
 
     gst_element_set_state (sink, GST_STATE_NULL);
+    gst_object_unref (sink);
   }
-  gst_object_unref (sink);
 
   if (strcmp (DEFAULT_VIDEOSINK, "xvimagesink") == 0 ||
       strcmp (DEFAULT_VIDEOSINK, "ximagesink") == 0)
@@ -84,8 +84,9 @@ find_video_sink (void)
       return sink;
 
     gst_element_set_state (sink, GST_STATE_NULL);
+    gst_object_unref (sink);
   }
-  gst_object_unref (sink);
+
   return NULL;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/examples/overlay/qt-videooverlay.cpp b/tests/examples/overlay/qt-videooverlay.cpp
index d5c9d9ebb5..01449fcc9a 100644
--- a/tests/examples/overlay/qt-videooverlay.cpp
+++ b/tests/examples/overlay/qt-videooverlay.cpp
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ find_video_sink (void)
       return sink;
   
     gst_element_set_state (sink, GST_STATE_NULL);
+    gst_object_unref (sink);
   }
-  gst_object_unref (sink);
 
   if ((sink = gst_element_factory_make ("ximagesink", NULL))) {
     sret = gst_element_set_state (sink, GST_STATE_READY);
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ find_video_sink (void)
       return sink;
   
     gst_element_set_state (sink, GST_STATE_NULL);
+    gst_object_unref (sink);
   }
-  gst_object_unref (sink);
 
   if (strcmp (DEFAULT_VIDEOSINK, "xvimagesink") == 0 ||
       strcmp (DEFAULT_VIDEOSINK, "ximagesink") == 0)
@@ -73,8 +73,9 @@ find_video_sink (void)
       return sink;
   
     gst_element_set_state (sink, GST_STATE_NULL);
+    gst_object_unref (sink);
   }
-  gst_object_unref (sink);
+
   return NULL;
 }