diff --git a/gdk/gdkevents.c b/gdk/gdkevents.c
index 44d5013b96..9f31e27f5b 100644
--- a/gdk/gdkevents.c
+++ b/gdk/gdkevents.c
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ _gdk_event_queue_handle_motion_compression (GdkDisplay *display)
   while (pending_motions && pending_motions->next != NULL)
     {
       GList *next = pending_motions->next;
+      gdk_event_free (pending_motions->data);
       display->queued_events = g_list_delete_link (display->queued_events,
                                                    pending_motions);
       pending_motions = next;