diff --git a/plug-ins/common/file-heif.c b/plug-ins/common/file-heif.c
index 49d6503230..9564355f4f 100644
--- a/plug-ins/common/file-heif.c
+++ b/plug-ins/common/file-heif.c
@@ -362,6 +362,9 @@ run (const gchar      *name,
           g_object_unref (file);
         }
 
+      if (export == GIMP_EXPORT_EXPORT)
+        gimp_image_delete (image_ID);
+
       g_clear_object (&metadata);
     }
 #if LIBHEIF_HAVE_VERSION(1,8,0)
@@ -448,6 +451,9 @@ run (const gchar      *name,
           g_object_unref (file);
         }
 
+      if (export == GIMP_EXPORT_EXPORT)
+        gimp_image_delete (image_ID);
+
       g_clear_object (&metadata);
     }
 #endif