diff --git a/src/lib/evas/canvas/evas_object_textblock.c b/src/lib/evas/canvas/evas_object_textblock.c
index 3b22bf0222..813d4798f3 100644
--- a/src/lib/evas/canvas/evas_object_textblock.c
+++ b/src/lib/evas/canvas/evas_object_textblock.c
@@ -5075,6 +5075,7 @@ _layout_pre(Ctxt *c, int *style_pad_l, int *style_pad_r, int *style_pad_t,
                {
                   Evas_Object_Textblock_Format_Item *fi = NULL;
                   Evas_Object_Textblock_Format *pfmt = c->fmt;
+                  pfmt->ref++;
 
                   off += fnode->offset;
                   /* No need to skip on the first run, or a non-visible one */
@@ -5093,6 +5094,8 @@ _layout_pre(Ctxt *c, int *style_pad_l, int *style_pad_r, int *style_pad_t,
                        _layout_text_append_commit(c, &queue, n, rel);
                     }
 
+                  _format_unref_free(c->obj, pfmt);
+
                   if ((c->have_underline2) || (c->have_underline))
                     {
                        if (*style_pad_b < c->underline_extend)