diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
index 8d3769e3a..a2a841c59 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
@@ -619,7 +619,10 @@ clutter_context_new (ClutterBackendConstructor   backend_constructor,
   clutter_context->last_repaint_id = 1;
 
   if (!clutter_init_real (clutter_context, error))
-    return NULL;
+    {
+      g_free (clutter_context);
+      return NULL;
+    }
 
   ClutterCntx = clutter_context;