diff --git a/gfx/2d/DrawTargetCairo.cpp b/gfx/2d/DrawTargetCairo.cpp
index 39d738c79ff7..db9d2cad3f5f 100644
--- a/gfx/2d/DrawTargetCairo.cpp
+++ b/gfx/2d/DrawTargetCairo.cpp
@@ -810,17 +810,23 @@ DrawTargetCairo::CreateSimilarDrawTarget(const IntSize &aSize, SurfaceFormat aFo
 }
 
 bool
-DrawTargetCairo::Init(cairo_surface_t* aSurface, const IntSize& aSize)
+DrawTargetCairo::InitAlreadyReferenced(cairo_surface_t* aSurface, const IntSize& aSize)
 {
   mContext = cairo_create(aSurface);
   mSurface = aSurface;
-  cairo_surface_reference(mSurface);
   mSize = aSize;
   mFormat = CairoContentToGfxFormat(cairo_surface_get_content(aSurface));
 
   return true;
 }
 
+bool
+DrawTargetCairo::Init(cairo_surface_t* aSurface, const IntSize& aSize)
+{
+  cairo_surface_reference(aSurface);
+  return InitAlreadyReferenced(aSurface, aSize);
+}
+
 void *
 DrawTargetCairo::GetNativeSurface(NativeSurfaceType aType)
 {
diff --git a/gfx/2d/DrawTargetCairo.h b/gfx/2d/DrawTargetCairo.h
index 867873f1e17b..0f4edd5af64f 100644
--- a/gfx/2d/DrawTargetCairo.h
+++ b/gfx/2d/DrawTargetCairo.h
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@ public:
   void PrepareForDrawing(cairo_t* aContext, const Path* aPath = nullptr);
 
 private: // methods
+  // Init cairo surface without doing a cairo_surface_reference() call.
+  bool InitAlreadyReferenced(cairo_surface_t* aSurface, const IntSize& aSize);
+
   enum DrawPatternType { DRAW_FILL, DRAW_STROKE };
   void DrawPattern(const Pattern& aPattern,
                    const StrokeOptions& aStrokeOptions,