diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 8f0f93e06..0830e1fac 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ class Boss(Thread):
         # Must be called in the main thread as it manipulates signal handlers
         signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.SIG_DFL)
         signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, signal.SIG_DFL)
+        self.char_grid.destroy()
 
     def shutdown(self):
         self.shutting_down = True
diff --git a/kitty/char_grid.py b/kitty/char_grid.py
index d3e84fa3a..95c7407ee 100644
--- a/kitty/char_grid.py
+++ b/kitty/char_grid.py
@@ -159,6 +159,9 @@ class CharGrid:
             viewport=Size(self.width, self.height), clear_color=self.original_bg,
             cursor=self.default_cursor))
 
+    def destroy(self):
+        self.sprites.destroy()
+
     def initialize(self):
         self.default_bg, self.default_fg = self.original_bg, self.original_fg
         self.apply_opts(self.opts)
diff --git a/kitty/gl.h b/kitty/gl.h
index 950c3bbfe..ee39168c9 100644
--- a/kitty/gl.h
+++ b/kitty/gl.h
@@ -487,6 +487,14 @@ DeleteTexture(PyObject UNUSED *self, PyObject *val) {
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }
  
+static PyObject* 
+DeleteBuffer(PyObject UNUSED *self, PyObject *val) {
+    GLuint tex_id = (GLuint)PyLong_AsUnsignedLong(val);
+    glDeleteBuffers(1, &tex_id);
+    CHECK_ERROR;
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+}
+ 
 static PyObject* 
 BlendFunc(PyObject UNUSED *self, PyObject *args) {
     int s, d;
@@ -559,6 +567,7 @@ int add_module_gl_constants(PyObject *module) {
     METH(ShaderSource, METH_VARARGS) \
     METH(CompileShader, METH_O) \
     METH(DeleteTexture, METH_O) \
+    METH(DeleteBuffer, METH_O) \
     METH(GetString, METH_O) \
     METH(GetIntegerv, METH_O) \
     METH(Clear, METH_O) \
diff --git a/kitty/shaders.py b/kitty/shaders.py
index 8ed2f9fb4..10b1c11e5 100644
--- a/kitty/shaders.py
+++ b/kitty/shaders.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from .fast_data_types import (
     glGetAttribLocation, glUseProgram, glBindVertexArray, GL_TEXTURE0,
     GL_TEXTURE1, glGetIntegerv, GL_MAX_ARRAY_TEXTURE_LAYERS, glBufferData,
     GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE, glDeleteTexture, GL_TEXTURE_2D_ARRAY, glGenTextures,
-    glBindTexture, glTexParameteri, GL_LINEAR, GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE,
+    glBindTexture, glTexParameteri, GL_LINEAR, GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE, glDeleteBuffer,
     GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_S,
     GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_T, glGenBuffers, GL_R8, GL_RED, GL_UNPACK_ALIGNMENT, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE,
     GL_STATIC_DRAW, GL_TEXTURE_BUFFER, GL_RGB32UI, glBindBuffer, glPixelStorei,
@@ -89,6 +89,15 @@ class Sprites:
         self.texture_id = tex
         glBindTexture(tgt, 0)
 
+    def destroy(self):
+        if self.texture_id is not None:
+            glDeleteTexture(self.texture_id)
+            self.texture_id = None
+        if self.buffer_texture_id is not None:
+            glDeleteTexture(self.buffer_texture_id)
+        if self.buffer_id is not None:
+            glDeleteBuffer(self.buffer_id)
+
     def ensure_state(self):
         if self.texture_id is None:
             self.realloc_texture()