src/image_viewer.c | 14 ++++++++++----
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/image_viewer.c b/src/image_viewer.c
index 6b673c21..b0da66e0 100644
--- a/src/image_viewer.c
+++ b/src/image_viewer.c
@@ -341,10 +341,16 @@ rstto_image_viewer_init (RsttoImageViewer *viewer)
             NULL);
     if (viewer->priv->bg_icon != NULL)
     {
-        gdk_pixbuf_saturate_and_pixelate (
-                viewer->priv->bg_icon,
-                viewer->priv->bg_icon,
-                0, FALSE);
+        GdkPixbuf *tmp = gdk_pixbuf_copy (viewer->priv->bg_icon);
+
+        if (tmp != NULL) {
+            gdk_pixbuf_saturate_and_pixelate (
+                    viewer->priv->bg_icon,
+                    tmp,
+                    0, FALSE);
+            g_object_unref (viewer->priv->bg_icon);
+            viewer->priv->bg_icon = tmp;
+        }
     }
 
     g_signal_connect (viewer->priv->settings, "notify::bgcolor",