diff --git a/kitty/state.c b/kitty/state.c
index 778d7fa19..a1b3b87a4 100644
--- a/kitty/state.c
+++ b/kitty/state.c
@@ -97,9 +97,9 @@ free_bgimage(BackgroundImage **bgimage, bool release_texture) {
             free((*bgimage)->bitmap); (*bgimage)->bitmap = NULL;
             if (release_texture) free_texture(&(*bgimage)->texture_id);
             free(*bgimage);
-            bgimage = NULL;
         }
     }
+    bgimage = NULL;
 }
 
 OSWindow*