diff --git a/core/image/common.odin b/core/image/common.odin
index 28129a6e1..baacd64d9 100644
--- a/core/image/common.odin
+++ b/core/image/common.odin
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ Image :: struct {
 	which:         Which_File_Type,
 }
 
-Image_Metadata :: union {
+Image_Metadata :: union #shared_nil {
 	^Netpbm_Info,
 	^PNG_Info,
 	^QOI_Info,
diff --git a/core/image/general_loader.odin b/core/image/general_loader.odin
index 79f5fb737..bf0061311 100644
--- a/core/image/general_loader.odin
+++ b/core/image/general_loader.odin
@@ -52,7 +52,9 @@ destroy :: proc(img: ^Image, allocator := context.allocator) -> bool {
 	destroyer := _internal_destroyers[img.which]
 	if destroyer != nil {
 		destroyer(img)
+	} else {
+		assert(img.metadata == nil)
+		free(img)
 	}
-	free(img)
 	return true
 }
\ No newline at end of file