diff --git a/gst/quicktime/gstqtmux.c b/gst/quicktime/gstqtmux.c
index 1477db7c8e..728e1f3c59 100644
--- a/gst/quicktime/gstqtmux.c
+++ b/gst/quicktime/gstqtmux.c
@@ -503,6 +503,7 @@ gst_qt_mux_finalize (GObject * object)
 
   atoms_context_free (qtmux->context);
   gst_object_unref (qtmux->collect);
+  qtmux->collect = NULL;
 
   g_slist_free (qtmux->sinkpads);
 
@@ -3165,7 +3166,9 @@ gst_qt_mux_release_pad (GstElement * element, GstPad * pad)
     }
   }
 
-  gst_collect_pads_remove_pad (mux->collect, pad);
+  if (mux->collect) {
+    gst_collect_pads_remove_pad (mux->collect, pad);
+  }
 }
 
 static GstPad *