diff --git a/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h b/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h
index 32ebba220..72563a3b1 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ struct _ClutterBackend
   CoglRenderer *cogl_renderer;
   CoglDisplay *cogl_display;
   CoglContext *cogl_context;
+  GSource *cogl_source;
 
   ClutterDeviceManager *device_manager;
 
diff --git a/clutter/clutter-backend.c b/clutter/clutter-backend.c
index 9d14df3fa..488008f7b 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-backend.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-backend.c
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ clutter_backend_finalize (GObject *gobject)
 {
   ClutterBackend *backend = CLUTTER_BACKEND (gobject);
 
+  g_source_destroy (backend->cogl_source);
+
   g_free (backend->priv->font_name);
   clutter_backend_set_font_options (backend, NULL);
 
@@ -324,6 +326,10 @@ clutter_backend_real_create_context (ClutterBackend  *backend,
   if (backend->cogl_context == NULL)
     goto error;
 
+  backend->cogl_source = cogl_glib_source_new (backend->cogl_context,
+                                               G_PRIORITY_DEFAULT);
+  g_source_attach (backend->cogl_source, NULL);
+
   /* the display owns the renderer and the swap chain */
   cogl_object_unref (backend->cogl_renderer);
   cogl_object_unref (swap_chain);