diff --git a/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h b/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h
index 6d7d3ad75..168dae453 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h
+++ b/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ struct _MetaBackendClass
 };
 
 void meta_init_backend (GType backend_gtype);
+void meta_release_backend (void);
 
 #ifdef HAVE_WAYLAND
 MetaWaylandCompositor * meta_backend_get_wayland_compositor (MetaBackend *backend);
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-backend.c b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
index 97c771407..c4bba3000 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-backend.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
@@ -1393,6 +1393,12 @@ meta_init_backend (GType backend_gtype)
     }
 }
 
+void
+meta_release_backend (void)
+{
+  g_clear_object (&_backend);
+}
+
 /**
  * meta_is_stage_views_enabled:
  *