diff --git a/src/_webp.c b/src/_webp.c
index 6c357dbb0..90719b466 100644
--- a/src/_webp.c
+++ b/src/_webp.c
@@ -392,6 +392,7 @@ _anim_decoder_new(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
                     return (PyObject *)decp;
                 }
             }
+            WebPDataClear(&(decp->data));
         }
         PyObject_Del(decp);
     }