diff --git a/gdk/gdkwindow.c b/gdk/gdkwindow.c
index 4e4ec98ba8..68a75df5e3 100644
--- a/gdk/gdkwindow.c
+++ b/gdk/gdkwindow.c
@@ -3058,6 +3058,8 @@ gdk_cairo_create (GdkWindow *window)
   cairo_region_destroy (region);
   cairo_clip (cr);
 
+  cairo_surface_destroy (surface);
+
   return cr;
 }