diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-event-x11.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-event-x11.c
index d230a3406..e6483a815 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-event-x11.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-event-x11.c
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ meta_x11_handle_event (XEvent *xevent)
     {
       /* forward the event into clutter for emission etc. */
       clutter_do_event (event);
+      clutter_event_free (event);
       --spin;
     }