diff --git a/resize.go b/resize.go
index 0cd5450..1e2725e 100644
--- a/resize.go
+++ b/resize.go
@@ -9,14 +9,12 @@ import "C"
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"math"
-	"runtime"
 )
 
 // Resize is used to transform a given image as byte buffer
 // with the passed options.
 func Resize(buf []byte, o Options) ([]byte, error) {
 	defer C.vips_thread_shutdown()
-	defer runtime.KeepAlive(buf)
 
 	image, imageType, err := loadImage(buf)
 	if err != nil {