diff --git a/src/execplugin/execplugin.c b/src/execplugin/execplugin.c
index 6c9f077..bf20058 100644
--- a/src/execplugin/execplugin.c
+++ b/src/execplugin/execplugin.c
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ gpointer create_execp_frontend(gconstpointer arg, gpointer data)
                execp_backend->backend->monitor, panel->monitor);
         Execp *dummy = create_execp();
         dummy->frontend = (ExecpFrontend *)calloc(1, sizeof(ExecpFrontend));
-        dummy->backend->instances = g_list_append(execp_backend->backend->instances, dummy);
+        dummy->backend->instances = g_list_append(dummy->backend->instances, dummy);
+        dummy->dummy = true;
         return dummy;
     }
     printf("Creating executor '%s' with monitor %d for panel on monitor %d\n",
@@ -89,7 +90,11 @@ void destroy_execp(void *obj)
         free_and_null(execp->frontend);
         remove_area(&execp->area);
         free_area(&execp->area);
-        free_and_null(execp);
+        if (execp->dummy) {
+            destroy_execp(execp);
+        } else {
+            free_and_null(execp);
+        }
     } else {
         // This is a backend element
         destroy_timer(&execp->backend->timer);
diff --git a/src/execplugin/execplugin.h b/src/execplugin/execplugin.h
index 127d12f..cbfb998 100644
--- a/src/execplugin/execplugin.h
+++ b/src/execplugin/execplugin.h
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ typedef struct Execp {
     ExecpBackend *backend;
     // Set only for frontend Execp items.
     ExecpFrontend *frontend;
+    bool dummy;
 } Execp;
 
 // Called before the config is read and panel_config/panels are created.