diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h
index 2f67c77ba..9309bdd01 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend-private.h
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ float clutter_backend_get_fallback_resource_scale (ClutterBackend *backend);
 
 gboolean clutter_backend_is_display_server (ClutterBackend *backend);
 
+CLUTTER_EXPORT
+void clutter_backend_destroy (ClutterBackend *backend);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __CLUTTER_BACKEND_PRIVATE_H__ */
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend.c
index f49d93cac..c90fabb42 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-backend.c
@@ -99,21 +99,12 @@ clutter_backend_dispose (GObject *gobject)
       backend->stage_window = NULL;
     }
 
-  G_OBJECT_CLASS (clutter_backend_parent_class)->dispose (gobject);
-}
-
-static void
-clutter_backend_finalize (GObject *gobject)
-{
-  ClutterBackend *backend = CLUTTER_BACKEND (gobject);
-
-  g_source_destroy (backend->cogl_source);
-
-  g_free (backend->font_name);
+  g_clear_pointer (&backend->cogl_source, g_source_destroy);
+  g_clear_pointer (&backend->font_name, g_free);
   g_clear_pointer (&backend->font_options, cairo_font_options_destroy);
   g_clear_object (&backend->input_method);
 
-  G_OBJECT_CLASS (clutter_backend_parent_class)->finalize (gobject);
+  G_OBJECT_CLASS (clutter_backend_parent_class)->dispose (gobject);
 }
 
 static gfloat
@@ -451,7 +442,6 @@ clutter_backend_class_init (ClutterBackendClass *klass)
   GObjectClass *gobject_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
 
   gobject_class->dispose = clutter_backend_dispose;
-  gobject_class->finalize = clutter_backend_finalize;
 
   /**
    * ClutterBackend::resolution-changed:
@@ -933,3 +923,10 @@ clutter_backend_is_display_server (ClutterBackend *backend)
 {
   return CLUTTER_BACKEND_GET_CLASS (backend)->is_display_server (backend);
 }
+
+void
+clutter_backend_destroy (ClutterBackend *backend)
+{
+  g_object_run_dispose (G_OBJECT (backend));
+  g_object_unref (backend);
+}
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-backend.c b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
index f2b7bd89a..0a8fb872e 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-backend.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ meta_backend_dispose (GObject *object)
 #endif
 
   g_clear_pointer (&priv->default_seat, clutter_seat_destroy);
-  g_clear_object (&priv->clutter_backend);
+  g_clear_pointer (&priv->clutter_backend, clutter_backend_destroy);
 
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (meta_backend_parent_class)->dispose (object);
 }