diff --git a/js/ui/main.js b/js/ui/main.js
index d22d52393..4e2000736 100644
--- a/js/ui/main.js
+++ b/js/ui/main.js
@@ -67,11 +67,6 @@ function start() {
     
     global.screen.connect('toggle-recording', function() {
         if (recorder == null) {
-            // We have to initialize GStreamer first. This isn't done
-            // inside ShellRecorder to make it usable inside projects
-            // with other usage of GStreamer.
-            let Gst = imports.gi.Gst;
-            Gst.init(null, null);
             recorder = new Shell.Recorder({ stage: global.stage });
         }
 
diff --git a/src/shell-recorder.c b/src/shell-recorder.c
index 134c0e550..2ff7d5a84 100644
--- a/src/shell-recorder.c
+++ b/src/shell-recorder.c
@@ -232,6 +232,9 @@ get_memory_target (void)
 static void
 shell_recorder_init (ShellRecorder *recorder)
 {
+  /* Calling gst_init() is a no-op if GStreamer was previously initialized */
+  gst_init (NULL, NULL);
+
   shell_recorder_src_register ();
 
   recorder->recording_icon = create_recording_icon ();