diff --git a/src/gmt_api.c b/src/gmt_api.c
index a1b917ac634..3c4e94f04ff 100644
--- a/src/gmt_api.c
+++ b/src/gmt_api.c
@@ -7564,6 +7564,27 @@ int GMT_Close_VirtualFile_ (unsigned int *family, char *string, int len) {
 }
 #endif
 
+int gmtlib_delete_virtualfile (void *V_API, const char *string) {
+	/* Given a VirtualFile name, delete its record bu NULLing it */
+	int object_ID, item;
+	struct GMTAPI_DATA_OBJECT *S_obj = NULL;
+	struct GMTAPI_CTRL *API = NULL;
+	if (V_API == NULL) return_error (V_API, GMT_NOT_A_SESSION);
+	if (string == NULL) return_error (V_API, GMT_PTR_IS_NULL);
+	if ((object_ID = gmtapi_decode_id (string)) == GMT_NOTSET)
+		return_error (V_API, GMT_OBJECT_NOT_FOUND);
+	API = gmtapi_get_api_ptr (V_API);
+	if ((item = gmtlib_validate_id (API, GMT_NOTSET, object_ID, GMT_NOTSET, GMT_NOTSET)) == GMT_NOTSET)
+		return_error (API, GMT_OBJECT_NOT_FOUND);
+	S_obj = API->object[item];	/* Short-hand */
+	if (S_obj->family != S_obj->actual_family)	/* Reset the un-masquerading that GMT_Open_VirtualFile did */
+		S_obj->family = S_obj->actual_family;
+	S_obj->no_longer_owner = true;
+	S_obj->resource = NULL;
+
+	return GMT_NOERROR;
+}
+
 void * GMT_Read_VirtualFile (void *V_API, const char *string) {
 	/* Given a VirtualFile name, retrieve the resulting object */
 	int object_ID;
diff --git a/src/gmt_internals.h b/src/gmt_internals.h
index f47ab9cc169..18f83c28066 100644
--- a/src/gmt_internals.h
+++ b/src/gmt_internals.h
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ struct GMT_XINGS {
 EXTERN_MSC char *dlerror (void);
 #endif
 
+EXTERN_MSC int gmtlib_delete_virtualfile  (void *API, const char *string);
 EXTERN_MSC bool gmtlib_file_lock (struct GMT_CTRL *GMT, int fd);
 EXTERN_MSC bool gmtlib_file_unlock (struct GMT_CTRL *GMT, int fd);
 EXTERN_MSC int gmtlib_file_is_jpeg2000_tile (struct GMTAPI_CTRL *API, char *file);
diff --git a/src/gmt_remote.c b/src/gmt_remote.c
index 866897ca0f2..5d2a4c8d3b9 100644
--- a/src/gmt_remote.c
+++ b/src/gmt_remote.c
@@ -1558,6 +1558,11 @@ struct GMT_GRID *gmtlib_assemble_tiles (struct GMTAPI_CTRL *API, double *region,
 		GMT_Report (API, GMT_MSG_ERROR, "ERROR - Unable to receive blended grid from grdblend\n");
 		return NULL;
 	}
+	if (gmtlib_delete_virtualfile (API, grid)) {	/* Remove trace since passed upwards anyway */
+		GMT_Report (API, GMT_MSG_ERROR, "ERROR - Unable to destroy temporary object for assembled grid\n");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	HH = gmt_get_H_hidden (G->header);
 	HH->orig_datatype = GMT_SHORT;	/* Since we know this */
 	return (G);