diff --git a/image_unix.go b/image_unix.go
index 3f13d2a..4c66375 100644
--- a/image_unix.go
+++ b/image_unix.go
@@ -40,10 +40,9 @@ func toIconSizedGdkPixbuf(img *image.RGBA) *C.GdkPixbuf {
 		panic(fmt.Errorf("gtk_icon_size_lookup() failed in ImageList.Append() (no reason available)"))
 	}
 	if int(width) == img.Rect.Dx() && int(height) == img.Rect.Dy() {
-		// just add the base pixbuf; we're good
-		i.list = append(i.list, basepixbuf)
+		// just return the base pixbuf; we're good
 		C.cairo_surface_destroy(surface)
-		return
+		return basepixbuf
 	}
 	// else scale
 	pixbuf := C.gdk_pixbuf_scale_simple(basepixbuf, C.int(width), C.int(height), C.GDK_INTERP_NEAREST)
diff --git a/table_unix.go b/table_unix.go
index 931a28e..0857014 100644
--- a/table_unix.go
+++ b/table_unix.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
 	"unsafe"
+	"image"
 )
 
 // #include "gtk_unix.h"
@@ -25,8 +26,6 @@ type table struct {
 	modelgtk  *C.GtkTreeModel
 	selection *C.GtkTreeSelection
 
-	pixbufs []*C.GdkPixbuf
-
 	selected *event
 
 	// stuff required by GtkTreeModel
@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ func finishNewTable(b *tablebase, ty reflect.Type) Table {
 	for i := 0; i < ty.NumField(); i++ {
 		cname := togstr(ty.Field(i).Name)
 		switch {
-		case ty.Field(i).Type == reflect.TypeOf(ImageIndex(0)):
+		case ty.Field(i).Type == reflect.TypeOf((*image.RGBA)(nil)):
 			// can't use GDK_TYPE_PIXBUF here because it's a macro that expands to a function and cgo hates that
 			t.types = append(t.types, C.gdk_pixbuf_get_type())
 			C.tableAppendColumn(t.treeview, C.gint(i), cname,
@@ -113,10 +112,6 @@ func (t *table) Unlock() {
 	}()
 }
 
-func (t *table) LoadImageList(i ImageList) {
-	i.apply(&t.pixbufs)
-}
-
 func (t *table) Selected() int {
 	var iter C.GtkTreeIter
 
@@ -172,10 +167,13 @@ func goTableModel_do_get_value(data unsafe.Pointer, row C.gint, col C.gint, valu
 	d := reflect.Indirect(reflect.ValueOf(t.data))
 	datum := d.Index(int(row)).Field(int(col))
 	switch {
-	case datum.Type() == reflect.TypeOf(ImageIndex(0)):
-		d := datum.Interface().(ImageIndex)
+	case datum.Type() == reflect.TypeOf((*image.RGBA)(nil)):
+		d := datum.Interface().(*image.RGBA)
+		pixbuf := toIconSizedGdkPixbuf(d)
 		C.g_value_init(value, C.gdk_pixbuf_get_type())
-		C.g_value_set_object(value, C.gpointer(unsafe.Pointer(t.pixbufs[d])))
+		object := C.gpointer(unsafe.Pointer(pixbuf))
+		// use g_value_take_object() so the GtkTreeView becomes the pixbuf's owner
+		C.g_value_take_object(value, object)
 	case datum.Kind() == reflect.Bool:
 		d := datum.Interface().(bool)
 		C.g_value_init(value, C.G_TYPE_BOOLEAN)