diff --git a/src/compositor/meta-background.c b/src/compositor/meta-background.c
index 727000f98..fca5dce60 100644
--- a/src/compositor/meta-background.c
+++ b/src/compositor/meta-background.c
@@ -472,6 +472,17 @@ meta_background_dispose (GObject *object)
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (meta_background_parent_class)->dispose (object);
 }
 
+static void
+meta_background_finalize (GObject *object)
+{
+  MetaBackground        *self = META_BACKGROUND (object);
+  MetaBackgroundPrivate *priv = self->priv;
+
+  g_free (priv->filename);
+
+  G_OBJECT_CLASS (meta_background_parent_class)->finalize (object);
+}
+
 static void
 ensure_pipeline (MetaBackground *self)
 {
@@ -643,6 +654,7 @@ meta_background_class_init (MetaBackgroundClass *klass)
   g_type_class_add_private (klass, sizeof (MetaBackgroundPrivate));
 
   object_class->dispose = meta_background_dispose;
+  object_class->finalize = meta_background_finalize;
   object_class->set_property = meta_background_set_property;
   object_class->get_property = meta_background_get_property;