diff --git a/examples/plugins/registered_elements/.gitignore b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..707ee20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+*.dot
+__debug*
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/plugins/registered_elements/README.md b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ad3273
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Registered Elements example
+
+This example shows how you can define custom gstreamer elements in go, register them in the element factory and use them in the same application in a pipeline.
+
+We define two elements:
+
+* `gocustombin` a custom GstBin that uses an audiomixer to aggregate the input of two `gocustomsrc`
+* `gocustomsrc` a custom GstBin that uses an audiotestsrc and a volume element.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/common/assert.go b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/common/assert.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1cd3d33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/common/assert.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package common
+
+import "fmt"
+
+var FinalizersCalled int = 0
+
+func AssertFinalizersCalled(x int) {
+	if FinalizersCalled != x {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("finalizers did not run correctly, memory leak, wanted: %d, got: %d", x, FinalizersCalled))
+	}
+}
diff --git a/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/common/util.go b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/common/util.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3ecacb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/common/util.go
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package common
+
+func Must[T any](v T, err error) T {
+	if err != nil {
+		panic("got error:" + err.Error())
+	}
+
+	return v
+}
diff --git a/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/custombin/element.go b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/custombin/element.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31db7f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/custombin/element.go
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package custombin
+
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-glib/glib"
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-gst/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/common"
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-gst/gst"
+)
+
+type customBin struct {
+	// self    *gst.Bin
+	source1 *gst.Element
+	source2 *gst.Element
+	mixer   *gst.Element
+}
+
+// ClassInit is the place where you define pads and properties
+func (*customBin) ClassInit(klass *glib.ObjectClass) {
+	class := gst.ToElementClass(klass)
+	class.SetMetadata(
+		"custom test source",
+		"Src/Test",
+		"Demo source bin with volume",
+		"Wilhelm Bartel <bartel.wilhelm@gmail.com>",
+	)
+	class.AddPadTemplate(gst.NewPadTemplate(
+		"src",
+		gst.PadDirectionSource,
+		gst.PadPresenceAlways,
+		gst.NewCapsFromString("audio/x-raw,channels=2,rate=48000"),
+	))
+}
+
+// SetProperty gets called for every property. The id is the index in the slice defined above.
+func (s *customBin) SetProperty(self *glib.Object, id uint, value *glib.Value) {}
+
+// GetProperty is called to retrieve the value of the property at index `id` in the properties
+// slice provided at ClassInit.
+func (o *customBin) GetProperty(self *glib.Object, id uint) *glib.Value {
+	return nil
+}
+
+// New is called by the bindings to create a new instance of your go element. Use this to initialize channels, maps, etc.
+//
+// Think of New like the constructor of your struct
+func (*customBin) New() glib.GoObjectSubclass {
+	return &customBin{}
+}
+
+// InstanceInit should initialize the element. Keep in mind that the properties are not yet present. When this is called.
+func (s *customBin) InstanceInit(instance *glib.Object) {
+	self := gst.ToGstBin(instance)
+
+	s.source1 = common.Must(gst.NewElementWithProperties("gocustomsrc", map[string]interface{}{
+		"duration": int64(5 * time.Second),
+	}))
+	s.source2 = common.Must(gst.NewElementWithProperties("gocustomsrc", map[string]interface{}{
+		"duration": int64(10 * time.Second),
+	}))
+
+	s.mixer = common.Must(gst.NewElement("audiomixer"))
+
+	klass := instance.Class()
+	class := gst.ToElementClass(klass)
+
+	self.AddMany(
+		s.source1,
+		s.source2,
+		s.mixer,
+	)
+
+	srcpad := s.mixer.GetStaticPad("src")
+
+	ghostpad := gst.NewGhostPadFromTemplate("src", srcpad, class.GetPadTemplate("src"))
+
+	s.source1.Link(s.mixer)
+	s.source2.Link(s.mixer)
+
+	self.AddPad(ghostpad.Pad)
+}
+
+func (s *customBin) Constructed(o *glib.Object) {}
+
+func (s *customBin) Finalize(o *glib.Object) {
+	common.FinalizersCalled++
+}
diff --git a/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/custombin/register.go b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/custombin/register.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e181f75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/custombin/register.go
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package custombin
+
+import (
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-gst/gst"
+)
+
+// Register needs to be called after gst.Init() to make the gocustombin available in the standard
+// gst element registry. After this call the element can be used like any other gstreamer element
+func Register() bool {
+	return gst.RegisterElement(
+		// no plugin:
+		nil,
+		// The name of the element
+		"gocustombin",
+		// The rank of the element
+		gst.RankNone,
+		// The GoElement implementation for the element
+		&customBin{},
+		// The base subclass this element extends
+		gst.ExtendsBin,
+	)
+}
diff --git a/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/customsrc/element.go b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/customsrc/element.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7de038
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/customsrc/element.go
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+package customsrc
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"math"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-glib/glib"
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-gst/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/common"
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-gst/gst"
+)
+
+// default: 1024, this value makes it easier to calculate num buffers with the sample rate
+const samplesperbuffer = 4800
+
+const samplerate = 48000
+
+var properties = []*glib.ParamSpec{
+	glib.NewInt64Param(
+		"duration",
+		"duration",
+		"duration the source",
+		0,
+		math.MaxInt64,
+		0,
+		glib.ParameterReadWrite,
+	),
+}
+
+type customSrc struct {
+	// self   *gst.Bin
+	source *gst.Element
+	volume *gst.Element
+
+	duration time.Duration
+}
+
+// ClassInit is the place where you define pads and properties
+func (*customSrc) ClassInit(klass *glib.ObjectClass) {
+	class := gst.ToElementClass(klass)
+	class.SetMetadata(
+		"custom test source",
+		"Src/Test",
+		"Demo source bin with volume",
+		"Wilhelm Bartel <bartel.wilhelm@gmail.com>",
+	)
+	class.AddPadTemplate(gst.NewPadTemplate(
+		"src",
+		gst.PadDirectionSource,
+		gst.PadPresenceAlways,
+		gst.NewCapsFromString(fmt.Sprintf("audio/x-raw,channels=2,rate=%d", samplerate)),
+	))
+	class.InstallProperties(properties)
+}
+
+// SetProperty gets called for every property. The id is the index in the slice defined above.
+func (s *customSrc) SetProperty(self *glib.Object, id uint, value *glib.Value) {
+	param := properties[id]
+
+	bin := gst.ToGstBin(self)
+
+	switch param.Name() {
+	case "duration":
+		state := bin.GetCurrentState()
+		if !(state == gst.StateNull || state != gst.StateReady) {
+			return
+		}
+
+		gv, _ := value.GoValue()
+
+		durI, _ := gv.(int64)
+
+		s.duration = time.Duration(durI)
+
+		s.updateSource()
+	}
+}
+
+// GetProperty is called to retrieve the value of the property at index `id` in the properties
+// slice provided at ClassInit.
+func (o *customSrc) GetProperty(self *glib.Object, id uint) *glib.Value {
+	param := properties[id]
+
+	switch param.Name() {
+	case "duration":
+		v, _ := glib.GValue(int64(o.duration))
+		return v
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (*customSrc) New() glib.GoObjectSubclass {
+	return &customSrc{}
+}
+
+// InstanceInit should initialize the element. Keep in mind that the properties are not yet present. When this is called.
+func (s *customSrc) InstanceInit(instance *glib.Object) {
+	self := gst.ToGstBin(instance)
+
+	s.source = common.Must(gst.NewElement("audiotestsrc"))
+	s.volume = common.Must(gst.NewElement("volume"))
+
+	klass := instance.Class()
+	class := gst.ToElementClass(klass)
+
+	self.AddMany(
+		s.source,
+		s.volume,
+	)
+
+	srcpad := s.volume.GetStaticPad("src")
+
+	ghostpad := gst.NewGhostPadFromTemplate("src", srcpad, class.GetPadTemplate("src"))
+
+	gst.ElementLinkMany(
+		s.source,
+		s.volume,
+	)
+
+	self.AddPad(ghostpad.Pad)
+
+	s.updateSource()
+}
+
+func (s *customSrc) Constructed(o *glib.Object) {}
+
+func (s *customSrc) Finalize(o *glib.Object) {
+	common.FinalizersCalled++
+}
+
+// updateSource will get called to update the audiotestsrc when a property changes
+func (s *customSrc) updateSource() {
+	if s.source != nil {
+		numBuffers := (float64(s.duration / time.Second)) / (float64(samplesperbuffer) / float64(samplerate))
+
+		s.source.SetProperty("num-buffers", int(math.Ceil(numBuffers)))
+	}
+}
diff --git a/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/customsrc/register.go b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/customsrc/register.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a85ea2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/customsrc/register.go
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package customsrc
+
+import (
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-gst/gst"
+)
+
+// Register needs to be called after gst.Init() to make the gocustomsrc available in the standard
+// gst element registry. After this call the element can be used like any other gstreamer element
+func Register() bool {
+	return gst.RegisterElement(
+		// no plugin:
+		nil,
+		// The name of the element
+		"gocustomsrc",
+		// The rank of the element
+		gst.RankNone,
+		// The GoElement implementation for the element
+		&customSrc{},
+		// The base subclass this element extends
+		gst.ExtendsBin,
+	)
+}
diff --git a/examples/plugins/registered_elements/main.go b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13105a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/plugins/registered_elements/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/signal"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"runtime/pprof"
+
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-glib/glib"
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-gst/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/common"
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-gst/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/custombin"
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-gst/examples/plugins/registered_elements/internal/customsrc"
+	"github.com/go-gst/go-gst/gst"
+)
+
+func run(ctx context.Context) error {
+	ctx, cancel := signal.NotifyContext(ctx, os.Interrupt)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	wd, err := os.Getwd()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	gst.Init(nil)
+
+	customsrc.Register()
+	custombin.Register()
+
+	systemclock := gst.ObtainSystemClock()
+
+	pipeline, err := gst.NewPipelineFromString("gocustombin ! fakesink sync=true")
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	pipeline.ForceClock(systemclock.Clock)
+
+	bus := pipeline.GetBus()
+
+	mainloop := glib.NewMainLoop(glib.MainContextDefault(), false)
+
+	pipeline.SetState(gst.StatePlaying)
+
+	bus.AddWatch(func(msg *gst.Message) bool {
+		switch msg.Type() {
+		case gst.MessageStateChanged:
+			old, new := msg.ParseStateChanged()
+			dot := pipeline.DebugBinToDotData(gst.DebugGraphShowVerbose)
+
+			f, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(wd, fmt.Sprintf("pipeline-%s-to-%s.dot", old, new)), os.O_TRUNC|os.O_CREATE|os.O_RDWR, 0600)
+
+			if err != nil {
+				cancel()
+				return false
+			}
+
+			defer f.Close()
+
+			_, err = f.Write([]byte(dot))
+
+			if err != nil {
+				fmt.Println(err)
+				cancel()
+				return false
+			}
+
+		case gst.MessageEOS:
+			fmt.Println(msg.String())
+			cancel()
+			return false
+		}
+
+		// the String method is expensive and should not be used in prodution:
+		fmt.Println(msg.String())
+		return true
+	})
+
+	go mainloop.Run()
+
+	go func() {
+		<-ctx.Done()
+
+		mainloop.Quit()
+	}()
+
+	<-ctx.Done()
+
+	pipeline.BlockSetState(gst.StateNull)
+
+	gst.Deinit()
+
+	return ctx.Err()
+}
+
+func main() {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	err := run(ctx)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+	}
+
+	runtime.GC()
+	runtime.GC()
+	runtime.GC()
+
+	prof := pprof.Lookup("go-glib-reffed-objects")
+
+	prof.WriteTo(os.Stdout, 1)
+
+	// we are creating 3 custom elements in total. If this panics, then the go struct will memory leak
+	common.AssertFinalizersCalled(3)
+}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index d35604c..778c332 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 module github.com/go-gst/go-gst
 
-go 1.23
+go 1.23.1
+
+toolchain go1.23.2
 
 require github.com/mattn/go-pointer v0.0.1
 
-require github.com/go-gst/go-glib v1.4.0
+require github.com/go-gst/go-glib v1.4.1-0.20241115142200-3da60b6536bd
 
 require golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20240909161429-701f63a606c0 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 820e598..558e5d9 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 github.com/go-gst/go-glib v1.4.0 h1:FB2uVfB0uqz7/M6EaDdWWlBZRQpvFAbWfL7drdw8lAE=
 github.com/go-gst/go-glib v1.4.0/go.mod h1:GUIpWmkxQ1/eL+FYSjKpLDyTZx6Vgd9nNXt8dA31d5M=
+github.com/go-gst/go-glib v1.4.1-0.20241115142200-3da60b6536bd h1:9iZxYxazkdrKSGmKpiV+eEoaFeNXLGW3PPHcDfHp1n8=
+github.com/go-gst/go-glib v1.4.1-0.20241115142200-3da60b6536bd/go.mod h1:GUIpWmkxQ1/eL+FYSjKpLDyTZx6Vgd9nNXt8dA31d5M=
 github.com/mattn/go-pointer v0.0.1 h1:n+XhsuGeVO6MEAp7xyEukFINEa+Quek5psIR/ylA6o0=
 github.com/mattn/go-pointer v0.0.1/go.mod h1:2zXcozF6qYGgmsG+SeTZz3oAbFLdD3OWqnUbNvJZAlc=
 golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20240909161429-701f63a606c0 h1:e66Fs6Z+fZTbFBAxKfP3PALWBtpfqks2bwGcexMxgtk=