diff --git a/gtk/gtkcssstaticstyle.c b/gtk/gtkcssstaticstyle.c
index 9ca869395a..b264dbc2c3 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkcssstaticstyle.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkcssstaticstyle.c
@@ -865,6 +865,7 @@ gtk_css_lookup_resolve (GtkCssLookup      *lookup,
     }
   else if (parent_style && parent_style->variables)
     {
+      g_clear_pointer (&style->variables, gtk_css_variable_set_unref);
       style->variables = gtk_css_variable_set_ref (parent_style->variables);
     }