diff --git a/src/core/meta-selection.c b/src/core/meta-selection.c
index e0ff9f4b1..7e86c5269 100644
--- a/src/core/meta-selection.c
+++ b/src/core/meta-selection.c
@@ -270,6 +270,7 @@ source_read_cb (MetaSelectionSource *source,
   if (!stream)
     {
       g_task_return_error (task, error);
+      g_object_unref (task);
       return;
     }