diff --git a/src/compositor/meta-background-image.c b/src/compositor/meta-background-image.c
index c23eef909..1e756bd2a 100644
--- a/src/compositor/meta-background-image.c
+++ b/src/compositor/meta-background-image.c
@@ -199,8 +199,9 @@ file_loaded (GObject      *source_object,
                               pixels, 0,
                               &local_error))
     {
-      g_warning ("Failed to create texture for background");
-      cogl_object_unref (texture);
+      g_warning ("Failed to create texture for background: %s",
+                 local_error->message);
+      cogl_clear_object (&texture);
     }
 
   image->texture = texture;