diff --git a/cogl/cogl-primitive.c b/cogl/cogl-primitive.c
index db80ca218..6f3a40e2e 100644
--- a/cogl/cogl-primitive.c
+++ b/cogl/cogl-primitive.c
@@ -380,6 +380,9 @@ _cogl_primitive_free (CoglPrimitive *primitive)
     g_slice_free1 (sizeof (CoglAttribute *) * primitive->n_attributes,
                    primitive->attributes);
 
+  if (primitive->indices)
+    cogl_object_unref (primitive->indices);
+
   g_slice_free1 (sizeof (CoglPrimitive) +
                  sizeof (CoglAttribute *) *
                  (primitive->n_embedded_attributes - 1), primitive);