diff --git a/libvips/colour/profile_load.c b/libvips/colour/profile_load.c
index 824d8658..8facb9f9 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/profile_load.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/profile_load.c
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ vips_profile_load_build( VipsObject *object )
 	}
 	else if( (data = vips__file_read_name( load->name, 
 		vips__icc_dir(), &length )) ) {
-		profile = vips_blob_new( NULL, data, length );
+		profile = vips_blob_new( (VipsCallbackFn) g_free, data, length );
 	}
 	else {
 		vips_error( class->nickname,