diff --git a/randr/rrmode.c b/randr/rrmode.c
index d5072084a6..212175f1d5 100644
--- a/randr/rrmode.c
+++ b/randr/rrmode.c
@@ -85,11 +85,6 @@ RRModeCreate (xRRModeInfo   *modeInfo,
 	return NULL;
     modes = newModes;
     modes[num_modes++] = mode;
-    
-    /*
-     * give the caller a reference to this mode
-     */
-    ++mode->refcnt;
     return mode;
 }