diff --git a/gtk/gtkcssprovider.c b/gtk/gtkcssprovider.c
index b289b14997..a8e13edfab 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkcssprovider.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkcssprovider.c
@@ -2430,6 +2430,18 @@ gtk_css_provider_postprocess (GtkCssProvider *css_provider)
 
   priv->tree = _gtk_css_selector_tree_builder_build (builder);
   _gtk_css_selector_tree_builder_free (builder);
+
+#ifndef VERIFY_TREE
+  for (i = 0; i < priv->rulesets->len; i++)
+    {
+      GtkCssRuleset *ruleset;
+
+      ruleset = &g_array_index (priv->rulesets, GtkCssRuleset, i);
+
+      _gtk_css_selector_free (ruleset->selector);
+      ruleset->selector = NULL;
+    }
+#endif
 }
 
 static gboolean