diff --git a/team/bundles/org.eclipse.compare/compare/org/eclipse/compare/internal/ClipboardCompare.java b/team/bundles/org.eclipse.compare/compare/org/eclipse/compare/internal/ClipboardCompare.java
index 939ac3251da..6a3502e8fc2 100644
--- a/team/bundles/org.eclipse.compare/compare/org/eclipse/compare/internal/ClipboardCompare.java
+++ b/team/bundles/org.eclipse.compare/compare/org/eclipse/compare/internal/ClipboardCompare.java
@@ -188,7 +188,11 @@ protected Object prepareInput(IProgressMonitor monitor)
 	 */
 	private Object getClipboard() {
 		Clipboard clip = new Clipboard(Display.getDefault());
-		return clip.getContents(TextTransfer.getInstance());
+		try {
+			return clip.getContents(TextTransfer.getInstance());
+		} finally {
+			clip.dispose();
+		}
 	}
 
 	@Override
diff --git a/team/bundles/org.eclipse.compare/compare/org/eclipse/compare/internal/ClipboardReplace.java b/team/bundles/org.eclipse.compare/compare/org/eclipse/compare/internal/ClipboardReplace.java
index 065fb97d38a..2faa7b4171e 100644
--- a/team/bundles/org.eclipse.compare/compare/org/eclipse/compare/internal/ClipboardReplace.java
+++ b/team/bundles/org.eclipse.compare/compare/org/eclipse/compare/internal/ClipboardReplace.java
@@ -92,7 +92,11 @@ protected boolean isEnabled(ISelection selection) {
 	 */
 	private Object getClipboard() {
 		Clipboard clip = new Clipboard(Display.getDefault());
-		return clip.getContents(TextTransfer.getInstance());
+		try {
+			return clip.getContents(TextTransfer.getInstance());
+		} finally {
+			clip.dispose();
+		}
 	}
 
 }