diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c
index 9c40ada2c..ae1a91628 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c
@@ -874,6 +874,17 @@ meta_backend_x11_dispose (GObject *object)
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (meta_backend_x11_parent_class)->dispose (object);
 }
 
+static void
+meta_backend_x11_finalize (GObject *object)
+{
+  MetaBackendX11 *x11 = META_BACKEND_X11 (object);
+  MetaBackendX11Private *priv = meta_backend_x11_get_instance_private (x11);
+
+  g_clear_pointer (&priv->keymap, xkb_keymap_unref);
+
+  G_OBJECT_CLASS (meta_backend_x11_parent_class)->finalize (object);
+}
+
 static void
 meta_backend_x11_class_init (MetaBackendX11Class *klass)
 {
@@ -881,6 +892,7 @@ meta_backend_x11_class_init (MetaBackendX11Class *klass)
   GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
 
   object_class->dispose = meta_backend_x11_dispose;
+  object_class->finalize = meta_backend_x11_finalize;
   backend_class->create_clutter_backend = meta_backend_x11_create_clutter_backend;
   backend_class->post_init = meta_backend_x11_post_init;
   backend_class->grab_device = meta_backend_x11_grab_device;