diff --git a/vips/vips.go b/vips/vips.go
index 35e80e24..06a79f32 100644
--- a/vips/vips.go
+++ b/vips/vips.go
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ func Cleanup() {
 }
 
 func Error() error {
+	defer C.vips_error_clear()
 	return ierrors.NewUnexpected(C.GoString(C.vips_error_buffer()), 1)
 }