diff --git a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-data-device.c b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-data-device.c
index b06d03dfc..5b0a7c4f9 100644
--- a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-data-device.c
+++ b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-data-device.c
@@ -1515,6 +1515,8 @@ primary_source_destroyed (gpointer  data,
       if (data_device_resource)
         gtk_primary_selection_device_send_selection (data_device_resource, NULL);
     }
+
+  wl_signal_emit (&data_device->primary_ownership_signal, NULL);
 }
 
 void