diff --git a/src/scene/surfaceitem_wayland.cpp b/src/scene/surfaceitem_wayland.cpp
index 0b439c8d84..5b1001b06f 100644
--- a/src/scene/surfaceitem_wayland.cpp
+++ b/src/scene/surfaceitem_wayland.cpp
@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ void SurfaceItemWayland::freeze()
     for (auto &[subsurface, subsurfaceItem] : m_subsurfaces) {
         subsurfaceItem->freeze();
     }
+
+    m_surface = nullptr;
 }
 
 void SurfaceItemWayland::handleColorDescriptionChanged()