diff --git a/include/utils/RefBase.h b/include/utils/RefBase.h
index b31e993..c0be597 100644
--- a/include/utils/RefBase.h
+++ b/include/utils/RefBase.h
@@ -117,6 +117,20 @@
 
     typedef RefBase basetype;
 
+    // used to override the RefBase destruction.
+    class Destroyer {
+        friend class RefBase;
+        friend class weakref_type;
+    public:
+        virtual ~Destroyer();
+    private:
+        virtual void destroy(RefBase const* base) = 0;
+    };
+
+    // Make sure to never acquire a strong reference from this function. The
+    // same restrictions than for destructors apply.
+    void setDestroyer(Destroyer* destroyer);
+
 protected:
                             RefBase();
     virtual                 ~RefBase();
diff --git a/libs/utils/RefBase.cpp b/libs/utils/RefBase.cpp
index bb6c125..6fae30c 100644
--- a/libs/utils/RefBase.cpp
+++ b/libs/utils/RefBase.cpp
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+RefBase::Destroyer::~Destroyer() {
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 class RefBase::weakref_impl : public RefBase::weakref_type
 {
 public:
@@ -56,7 +61,7 @@
     volatile int32_t    mWeak;
     RefBase* const      mBase;
     volatile int32_t    mFlags;
-
+    Destroyer*          mDestroyer;
 
 #if !DEBUG_REFS
 
@@ -65,6 +70,7 @@
         , mWeak(0)
         , mBase(base)
         , mFlags(0)
+        , mDestroyer(0)
     {
     }
 
@@ -357,7 +363,11 @@
     if (c == 1) {
         const_cast<RefBase*>(this)->onLastStrongRef(id);
         if ((refs->mFlags&OBJECT_LIFETIME_WEAK) != OBJECT_LIFETIME_WEAK) {
-            delete this;
+            if (refs->mDestroyer) {
+                refs->mDestroyer->destroy(this);
+            } else {
+                delete this;
+            }
         }
     }
     refs->decWeak(id);
@@ -390,7 +400,9 @@
     return mRefs->mStrong;
 }
 
-
+void RefBase::setDestroyer(RefBase::Destroyer* destroyer) {
+    mRefs->mDestroyer = destroyer;
+}
 
 RefBase* RefBase::weakref_type::refBase() const
 {
@@ -414,16 +426,28 @@
     if (c != 1) return;
     
     if ((impl->mFlags&OBJECT_LIFETIME_WEAK) != OBJECT_LIFETIME_WEAK) {
-        if (impl->mStrong == INITIAL_STRONG_VALUE)
-            delete impl->mBase;
-        else {
+        if (impl->mStrong == INITIAL_STRONG_VALUE) {
+            if (impl->mBase) {
+                if (impl->mDestroyer) {
+                    impl->mDestroyer->destroy(impl->mBase);
+                } else {
+                    delete impl->mBase;
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
             // LOGV("Freeing refs %p of old RefBase %p\n", this, impl->mBase);
             delete impl;
         }
     } else {
         impl->mBase->onLastWeakRef(id);
         if ((impl->mFlags&OBJECT_LIFETIME_FOREVER) != OBJECT_LIFETIME_FOREVER) {
-            delete impl->mBase;
+            if (impl->mBase) {
+                if (impl->mDestroyer) {
+                    impl->mDestroyer->destroy(impl->mBase);
+                } else {
+                    delete impl->mBase;
+                }
+            }
         }
     }
 }
@@ -545,8 +569,10 @@
 
 RefBase::~RefBase()
 {
-    if (mRefs->mWeak == 0) {
-        delete mRefs;
+    if ((mRefs->mFlags & OBJECT_LIFETIME_WEAK) == OBJECT_LIFETIME_WEAK) {
+        if (mRefs->mWeak == 0) {
+            delete mRefs;
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
index 731d82b..a35811d 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
         mBufferManager(mTextureManager),
         mWidth(0), mHeight(0), mNeedsScaling(false), mFixedSize(false)
 {
+    setDestroyer(this);
 }
 
 Layer::~Layer()
@@ -77,6 +78,10 @@
     }
 }
 
+void Layer::destroy(RefBase const* base) {
+    mFlinger->destroyLayer(static_cast<LayerBase const*>(base));
+}
+
 status_t Layer::setToken(const sp<UserClient>& userClient,
         SharedClient* sharedClient, int32_t token)
 {
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h
index 4c92278..5330c08 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-class Layer : public LayerBaseClient
+class Layer : public LayerBaseClient, private RefBase::Destroyer
 {
 public:
             Layer(SurfaceFlinger* flinger, DisplayID display,
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@
         return mFreezeLock; }
 
 protected:
+    virtual void destroy(RefBase const* base);
     virtual void dump(String8& result, char* scratch, size_t size) const;
 
 private:
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
index 33cb9a4..a7b5857 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
@@ -387,6 +387,9 @@
 {
     waitForEvent();
 
+    // call Layer's destructor
+    handleDestroyLayers();
+
     // check for transactions
     if (UNLIKELY(mConsoleSignals)) {
         handleConsoleEvents();
@@ -580,6 +583,31 @@
     commitTransaction();
 }
 
+void SurfaceFlinger::destroyLayer(LayerBase const* layer)
+{
+    Mutex::Autolock _l(mDestroyedLayerLock);
+    mDestroyedLayers.add(layer);
+    signalEvent();
+}
+
+void SurfaceFlinger::handleDestroyLayers()
+{
+    Vector<LayerBase const *> destroyedLayers;
+
+    { // scope for the lock
+        Mutex::Autolock _l(mDestroyedLayerLock);
+        destroyedLayers = mDestroyedLayers;
+        mDestroyedLayers.clear();
+    }
+
+    // call destructors without a lock held
+    const size_t count = destroyedLayers.size();
+    for (size_t i=0 ; i<count ; i++) {
+        //LOGD("destroying %s", destroyedLayers[i]->getName().string());
+        delete destroyedLayers[i];
+    }
+}
+
 sp<FreezeLock> SurfaceFlinger::getFreezeLock() const
 {
     return new FreezeLock(const_cast<SurfaceFlinger *>(this));
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h
index 31c20d7..f81b074 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@
     status_t addLayer(const sp<LayerBase>& layer);
     status_t invalidateLayerVisibility(const sp<LayerBase>& layer);
     void invalidateHwcGeometry();
+    void destroyLayer(LayerBase const* layer);
 
     sp<Layer> getLayer(const sp<ISurface>& sur) const;
 
@@ -306,6 +307,7 @@
             void        handleConsoleEvents();
             void        handleTransaction(uint32_t transactionFlags);
             void        handleTransactionLocked(uint32_t transactionFlags);
+            void        handleDestroyLayers();
 
             void        computeVisibleRegions(
                             LayerVector& currentLayers,
@@ -428,6 +430,10 @@
     mutable     Barrier                     mReadyToRunBarrier;
 
 
+                // protected by mDestroyedLayerLock;
+    mutable     Mutex                       mDestroyedLayerLock;
+                Vector<LayerBase const *>   mDestroyedLayers;
+
                 // atomic variables
                 enum {
                     eConsoleReleased = 1,