diff --git a/src/lib/sprite.c b/src/lib/sprite.c
index f1a3fbad8..dc216f491 100644
--- a/src/lib/sprite.c
+++ b/src/lib/sprite.c
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ sprixel* sprixel_recycle(ncplane* n){
     sprixel_hide(hides);
     return sprixel_alloc(&nc->tcache, n, dimy, dimx);
   }
+  sixelmap_free(n->sprite->smap);
+  n->sprite->smap = NULL;
   return n->sprite;
 }