diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/txp/TXPArchive.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/txp/TXPArchive.cpp
index 5f80793db..de4a4816d 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/txp/TXPArchive.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/txp/TXPArchive.cpp
@@ -130,6 +130,9 @@ bool TXPArchive::loadMaterials()
 
                 // Create a texture by name.
                 osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> osg_texture = new osg::Texture2D();
+
+                // make sure the Texture unref's the Image after apply, when it is no longer needed.                
+                osg_texture->setUnRefImageDataAfterApply(true);
                 
                 // Load Texture and Create Texture State
                 std::string filename = osgDB::getSimpleFileName(texName);
diff --git a/src/osgPlugins/txp/TXPParser.cpp b/src/osgPlugins/txp/TXPParser.cpp
index e6092ff0c..34bb50057 100644
--- a/src/osgPlugins/txp/TXPParser.cpp
+++ b/src/osgPlugins/txp/TXPParser.cpp
@@ -1176,6 +1176,9 @@ osg::Texture2D* txp::getLocalTexture(trpgrImageHelper& image_helper, const trpgT
     {
         osg_texture = new osg::Texture2D();
 
+        // make sure the Texture unref's the Image after apply, when it is no longer needed.                
+        osg_texture->setUnRefImageDataAfterApply(true);
+
         osg::Image* image = new osg::Image;
         char* data = 0L;
 
@@ -1246,6 +1249,9 @@ osg::Texture2D* txp::getTemplateTexture(trpgrImageHelper& image_helper, trpgLoca
     {
         osg_texture = new osg::Texture2D();
 
+        // make sure the Texture unref's the Image after apply, when it is no longer needed.                
+        osg_texture->setUnRefImageDataAfterApply(true);
+
         osg::Image* image = new osg::Image;
         char* data = 0L;