diff --git a/gdk/wayland/gdkwindow-wayland.c b/gdk/wayland/gdkwindow-wayland.c
index b0772b51ea..d980bf8699 100644
--- a/gdk/wayland/gdkwindow-wayland.c
+++ b/gdk/wayland/gdkwindow-wayland.c
@@ -1487,7 +1487,10 @@ gdk_window_wayland_resize_cairo_surface (GdkWindow       *window,
                                          gint             width,
                                          gint             height)
 {
-  return surface;
+  /* cairo image surfaces cannot be resized */
+  cairo_surface_destroy (surface);
+
+  return NULL;
 }
 
 static cairo_region_t *