diff --git a/src/foundation_pEp_jniadapter_AbstractEngine.cc b/src/foundation_pEp_jniadapter_AbstractEngine.cc
index c1f4454..27efd72 100644
--- a/src/foundation_pEp_jniadapter_AbstractEngine.cc
+++ b/src/foundation_pEp_jniadapter_AbstractEngine.cc
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ namespace pEp {
                     signal_ = element;
                     break;
                 }
+                o.env() -> DeleteLocalRef(element);
             }
         }