diff --git a/simgear/canvas/CanvasSystemAdapter.hxx b/simgear/canvas/CanvasSystemAdapter.hxx
index 2492bb91..43b3f780 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/CanvasSystemAdapter.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/CanvasSystemAdapter.hxx
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ namespace canvas
       virtual FontPtr getFont(const std::string& name) const = 0;
       virtual void addCamera(osg::Camera* camera) const = 0;
       virtual void removeCamera(osg::Camera* camera) const = 0;
-      virtual osg::Image* getImage(const std::string& path) const = 0;
+      virtual osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> getImage(const std::string& path) const = 0;
       virtual SGSubsystem* getSubsystem(const std::string& name) const = 0;
       virtual HTTP::Client* getHTTPClient() const = 0;
   };
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
index 6c037d70..99d332c4 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.cxx
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ namespace canvas
   }
 
   //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  void Image::setImage(osg::Image *img)
+  void Image::setImage(osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> img)
   {
     // remove canvas...
     setSrcCanvas( CanvasPtr() );
diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
index 2ac255cf..3e6c7e9d 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasImage.hxx
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ namespace canvas
       void setSrcCanvas(CanvasPtr canvas);
       CanvasWeakPtr getSrcCanvas() const;
 
-      void setImage(osg::Image *img);
+      void setImage(osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> img);
       void setFill(const std::string& fill);
 
       /**