diff --git a/ext/schroedinger/gstschroenc.c b/ext/schroedinger/gstschroenc.c
index 70312eedc4..e69ac62292 100644
--- a/ext/schroedinger/gstschroenc.c
+++ b/ext/schroedinger/gstschroenc.c
@@ -263,6 +263,11 @@ gst_schro_enc_set_format (GstBaseVideoEncoder * base_video_encoder,
   caps =
       gst_pad_get_allowed_caps (GST_BASE_VIDEO_CODEC_SRC_PAD
       (base_video_encoder));
+  if (caps == NULL) {
+    caps =
+        gst_caps_copy (gst_pad_get_pad_template_caps
+        (GST_BASE_VIDEO_CODEC_SRC_PAD (base_video_encoder)));
+  }
 
   if (gst_caps_is_empty (caps)) {
     gst_caps_unref (caps);