diff --git a/src/lib/evas/cache/evas_cache_image.c b/src/lib/evas/cache/evas_cache_image.c
index 8504e1f403..9608c2188a 100644
--- a/src/lib/evas/cache/evas_cache_image.c
+++ b/src/lib/evas/cache/evas_cache_image.c
@@ -1103,6 +1103,9 @@ evas_cache_image_size_set(Image_Entry *im, unsigned int w, unsigned int h)
    im2->references = 1;
    im2->flags.loaded = EINA_TRUE;
    if (cache->func.debug) cache->func.debug("size_set", im2);
+   /* this drop is for handling refereces in this function */
+   evas_cache_image_drop(im);
+   /* we don't need im at this point, drop it! */
    evas_cache_image_drop(im);
    return im2;
 
@@ -1110,6 +1113,9 @@ on_error:
    SLKL(engine_lock);
    if (im2) _evas_cache_image_entry_delete(cache, im2);
    SLKU(engine_lock);
+   /* this drop is for handling refereces in this function */
+   evas_cache_image_drop(im);
+   /* we don't need im at this point, drop it! */
    evas_cache_image_drop(im);
    return NULL;
 }