diff --git a/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-primitives.c b/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-primitives.c
index 23fccf4af..ad388120b 100644
--- a/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-primitives.c
+++ b/clutter/cogl/cogl/cogl-primitives.c
@@ -1164,5 +1164,8 @@ cogl_polygon (const CoglTextureVertex *vertices,
                                      attributes);
 
   cogl_pop_source ();
+
+  if (pipeline != validate_state.original_pipeline)
+    cogl_object_unref (pipeline);
 }