diff --git a/beetsplug/replaygain.py b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
index e19101e3e..3c9c0042a 100644
--- a/beetsplug/replaygain.py
+++ b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
@@ -388,6 +388,12 @@ class GStreamerBackend(Backend):
         self._res = self.Gst.ElementFactory.make("audioresample", "res")
         self._rg = self.Gst.ElementFactory.make("rganalysis", "rg")
 
+        if self._src is None or self._decbin is None or self._conv is None \
+           or self._res is None or self._rg is None:
+            raise FatalReplayGainError(
+                "Failed to load required GStreamer plugins"
+            )
+
         # We check which files need gain ourselves, so all files given
         # to rganalsys should have their gain computed, even if it
         # already exists.
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index a8f68cd16..a651572c9 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ Fixes:
 * Some messages in the console UI now use plural nouns correctly. Thanks to
   :user:`JesseWeinstein`. :bug:`1521`
 * Sorting numerical fields (such as track) now works again. :bug:`1511`
+* :doc:`/plugins/replaygain`: Missing GStreamer plugins now cause a helpful
+  error message instead of a crash. :bug:`1518`
 
 
 1.3.13 (April 24, 2015)