diff --git a/src/vtebg.c b/src/vtebg.c
index d5ebe75..40cde6d 100644
--- a/src/vtebg.c
+++ b/src/vtebg.c
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ vte_bg_get_surface(VteBg *bg,
 	case VTE_BG_SOURCE_ROOT:
 		break;
 	case VTE_BG_SOURCE_PIXBUF:
-		item->source_pixbuf = g_object_ref (source_pixbuf);
+		item->source_pixbuf = source_pixbuf;
 		pixbuf = g_object_ref (source_pixbuf);
 		break;
 	case VTE_BG_SOURCE_FILE:
