diff --git a/clutter/glx/clutter-glx-texture-pixmap.c b/clutter/glx/clutter-glx-texture-pixmap.c
index add4a9bbf..b021950c5 100644
--- a/clutter/glx/clutter-glx-texture-pixmap.c
+++ b/clutter/glx/clutter-glx-texture-pixmap.c
@@ -377,6 +377,7 @@ create_cogl_texture (ClutterTexture *texture,
       priv->using_rectangle = using_rectangle;
 
       clutter_texture_set_cogl_texture (texture, handle);
+      cogl_texture_unref(handle);
 
       return TRUE;
     }