diff --git a/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-material.c b/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-material.c
index e8a2a5547..b5933ba7a 100644
--- a/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-material.c
+++ b/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-material.c
@@ -490,8 +490,6 @@ cogl_material_copy (CoglMaterial *src)
 {
   CoglMaterial *material = g_slice_new (CoglMaterial);
 
-  cogl_object_ref (src);
-
   material->_parent = src->_parent;
 
   material->is_weak = FALSE;