diff --git a/libpkgconf/cache.c b/libpkgconf/cache.c
index 9a7590f..c89b85c 100644
--- a/libpkgconf/cache.c
+++ b/libpkgconf/cache.c
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ pkgconf_cache_remove(pkgconf_client_t *client, pkgconf_pkg_t *pkg)
 		return;
 
 	pkg->flags &= ~PKGCONF_PKG_PROPF_CACHED;
+	pkgconf_pkg_unref(client, pkg);
 	*slot = NULL;
 
 	qsort(client->cache_table, client->cache_count,