diff --git a/src/cairo.c b/src/cairo.c
index 56f99e492..bd31063da 100644
--- a/src/cairo.c
+++ b/src/cairo.c
@@ -212,6 +212,8 @@ cairo_reference (cairo_t *cr)
 void
 cairo_destroy (cairo_t *cr)
 {
+    cairo_surface_t *surface;
+
     if (cr == NULL || CAIRO_REFERENCE_COUNT_IS_INVALID (&cr->ref_count))
 	return;
 
@@ -225,6 +227,15 @@ cairo_destroy (cairo_t *cr)
 	    break;
     }
 
+    /* The context is expected (>99% of all use cases) to be held for the
+     * duration of a single expose event/sequence of graphic operations.
+     * Therefore, on destroy we explicitly flush the Cairo pipeline of any
+     * pending operations.
+     */
+    surface = _cairo_gstate_get_original_target (cr->gstate);
+    if (surface != NULL)
+	cairo_surface_flush (surface);
+
     _cairo_gstate_fini (cr->gstate);
     while (cr->gstate_freelist != NULL) {
 	cairo_gstate_t *gstate = cr->gstate_freelist;