diff --git a/src/battery/battery.c b/src/battery/battery.c
index c9cb7b6..cf2bcd0 100644
--- a/src/battery/battery.c
+++ b/src/battery/battery.c
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ void init_battery_panel(void *p)
 	battery->area.has_mouse_press_effect = battery->area.has_mouse_over_effect;
 	if (battery_tooltip_enabled)
 		battery->area._get_tooltip_text = battery_get_tooltip;
-	init_area_gradients(&battery->area);
+	instantiate_area_gradients(&battery->area);
 }
 
 void battery_init_fonts()
diff --git a/src/clock/clock.c b/src/clock/clock.c
index 1524287..bb2e03f 100644
--- a/src/clock/clock.c
+++ b/src/clock/clock.c
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ void init_clock_panel(void *p)
 
 	clock->area.resize_needed = 1;
 	clock->area.on_screen = TRUE;
-	init_area_gradients(&clock->area);
+	instantiate_area_gradients(&clock->area);
 
 	if (time_tooltip_format) {
 		clock->area._get_tooltip_text = clock_get_tooltip;
diff --git a/src/execplugin/execplugin.c b/src/execplugin/execplugin.c
index 581d098..abe1e16 100644
--- a/src/execplugin/execplugin.c
+++ b/src/execplugin/execplugin.c
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ void init_execp_panel(void *p)
 
 		execp->area.resize_needed = TRUE;
 		execp->area.on_screen = TRUE;
-		init_area_gradients(&execp->area);
+		instantiate_area_gradients(&execp->area);
 
 		if (!execp->backend->timer)
 			execp->backend->timer = add_timeout(10, 0, execp_timer_callback, execp, &execp->backend->timer);
diff --git a/src/launcher/launcher.c b/src/launcher/launcher.c
index 31642dd..138daa7 100644
--- a/src/launcher/launcher.c
+++ b/src/launcher/launcher.c
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ void init_launcher_panel(void *p)
 
 	launcher->area.on_screen = TRUE;
 	panel_refresh = TRUE;
-	init_area_gradients(&launcher->area);
+	instantiate_area_gradients(&launcher->area);
 
 	launcher_load_themes(launcher);
 	launcher_load_icons(launcher);
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ void launcher_load_icons(Launcher *launcher)
 		add_area(&launcherIcon->area, (Area *)launcher);
 		launcher->list_icons = g_slist_append(launcher->list_icons, launcherIcon);
 		launcher_reload_icon(launcher, launcherIcon);
-		init_area_gradients(&launcherIcon->area);
+		instantiate_area_gradients(&launcherIcon->area);
 		app = g_slist_next(app);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/panel.c b/src/panel.c
index d34e6d7..abae4c2 100644
--- a/src/panel.c
+++ b/src/panel.c
@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ void cleanup_panel()
 	panel_window_name = NULL;
 	free(panels);
 	panels = NULL;
+
+	free_area(&panel_config.area);
+
 	if (backgrounds)
 		g_array_free(backgrounds, TRUE);
 	backgrounds = NULL;
@@ -195,6 +198,7 @@ void init_panel()
 	panels = calloc(num_panels, sizeof(Panel));
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_panels; i++) {
 		memcpy(&panels[i], &panel_config, sizeof(Panel));
+		panels[i].area.gradients = g_list_copy(panel_config.area.gradients);
 	}
 
 	fprintf(stderr,
@@ -219,7 +223,7 @@ void init_panel()
 		p->area._clear = panel_clear_background;
 		p->separator_list = NULL;
 		init_panel_size_and_position(p);
-		init_area_gradients(&p->area);
+		instantiate_area_gradients(&p->area);
 		// add children according to panel_items
 		for (int k = 0; k < strlen(panel_items_order); k++) {
 			if (panel_items_order[k] == 'L')
diff --git a/src/separator/separator.c b/src/separator/separator.c
index 7912d1e..8dd0085 100644
--- a/src/separator/separator.c
+++ b/src/separator/separator.c
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ void init_separator_panel(void *p)
 		separator->area.on_screen = TRUE;
 		separator->area._resize = resize_separator;
 		separator->area._draw_foreground = draw_separator;
-		init_area_gradients(&separator->area);
+		instantiate_area_gradients(&separator->area);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/systray/systraybar.c b/src/systray/systraybar.c
index dac23ed..7c1055d 100644
--- a/src/systray/systraybar.c
+++ b/src/systray/systraybar.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ void init_systray_panel(void *p)
 	show(&systray.area);
 	schedule_redraw(&systray.area);
 	refresh_systray = TRUE;
-	init_area_gradients(&systray.area);
+	instantiate_area_gradients(&systray.area);
 }
 
 gboolean resize_systray(void *obj)
diff --git a/src/taskbar/task.c b/src/taskbar/task.c
index 490d887..33a1a51 100644
--- a/src/taskbar/task.c
+++ b/src/taskbar/task.c
@@ -595,9 +595,9 @@ void set_task_state(Task *task, TaskState state)
 				Task *task1 = g_ptr_array_index(task_buttons, i);
 				task1->current_state = state;
 				task1->area.bg = panels[0].g_task.background[state];
-				free_area_gradients(&task1->area);
-				task1->area.gradients = panels[0].g_task.gradient[state];
-				init_area_gradients(&task1->area);
+				free_area_gradient_instances(&task1->area);
+				task1->area.gradients = g_list_copy(panels[0].g_task.gradient[state]);
+				instantiate_area_gradients(&task1->area);
 				schedule_redraw(&task1->area);
 				if (state == TASK_ACTIVE && g_slist_find(urgent_list, task1))
 					del_urgent(task1);
diff --git a/src/taskbar/taskbar.c b/src/taskbar/taskbar.c
index 501fff4..7def4a7 100644
--- a/src/taskbar/taskbar.c
+++ b/src/taskbar/taskbar.c
@@ -116,6 +116,15 @@ void cleanup_taskbar()
 	urgent_list = NULL;
 
 	stop_timeout(urgent_timeout);
+
+	for (int state = 0; state < TASK_STATE_COUNT; state++) {
+		g_list_free(panel_config.g_task.gradient[state]);
+	}
+
+	for (int state = 0; state < TASKBAR_STATE_COUNT; state++) {
+		g_list_free(panel_config.g_taskbar.gradient[state]);
+		g_list_free(panel_config.g_taskbar.gradient_name[state]);
+	}
 }
 
 void init_taskbar()
@@ -306,14 +315,14 @@ void init_taskbar_panel(void *p)
 		taskbar->desktop = j;
 		if (j == server.desktop) {
 			taskbar->area.bg = panel->g_taskbar.background[TASKBAR_ACTIVE];
-			free_area_gradients(&taskbar->area);
-			taskbar->area.gradients = panel->g_taskbar.gradient[TASKBAR_ACTIVE];
-			init_area_gradients(&taskbar->area);
+			free_area_gradient_instances(&taskbar->area);
+			taskbar->area.gradients = g_list_copy(panel->g_taskbar.gradient[TASKBAR_ACTIVE]);
+			instantiate_area_gradients(&taskbar->area);
 		} else {
 			taskbar->area.bg = panel->g_taskbar.background[TASKBAR_NORMAL];
-			free_area_gradients(&taskbar->area);
-			taskbar->area.gradients = panel->g_taskbar.gradient[TASKBAR_NORMAL];
-			init_area_gradients(&taskbar->area);
+			free_area_gradient_instances(&taskbar->area);
+			taskbar->area.gradients = g_list_copy(panel->g_taskbar.gradient[TASKBAR_NORMAL]);
+			instantiate_area_gradients(&taskbar->area);
 		}
 
 	}
@@ -486,15 +495,15 @@ void update_all_taskbars_visibility()
 void set_taskbar_state(Taskbar *taskbar, TaskbarState state)
 {
 	taskbar->area.bg = panels[0].g_taskbar.background[state];
-	free_area_gradients(&taskbar->area);
-	taskbar->area.gradients = panels[0].g_taskbar.gradient[state];
-	init_area_gradients(&taskbar->area);
+	free_area_gradient_instances(&taskbar->area);
+	taskbar->area.gradients = g_list_copy(panels[0].g_taskbar.gradient[state]);
+	instantiate_area_gradients(&taskbar->area);
 
 	if (taskbarname_enabled) {
 		taskbar->bar_name.area.bg = panels[0].g_taskbar.background_name[state];
-		free_area_gradients(&taskbar->bar_name.area);
-		taskbar->bar_name.area.gradients = panels[0].g_taskbar.gradient_name[state];
-		init_area_gradients(&taskbar->bar_name.area);
+		free_area_gradient_instances(&taskbar->bar_name.area);
+		taskbar->bar_name.area.gradients = g_list_copy(panels[0].g_taskbar.gradient_name[state]);
+		instantiate_area_gradients(&taskbar->bar_name.area);
 	}
 
 	update_taskbar_visibility(taskbar);
diff --git a/src/taskbar/taskbarname.c b/src/taskbar/taskbarname.c
index 6a76416..d05e42b 100644
--- a/src/taskbar/taskbarname.c
+++ b/src/taskbar/taskbarname.c
@@ -62,10 +62,10 @@ void init_taskbarname_panel(void *p)
 		taskbar->bar_name.area.has_mouse_press_effect = panel_config.mouse_effects;
 		if (j == server.desktop) {
 			taskbar->bar_name.area.bg = panel->g_taskbar.background_name[TASKBAR_ACTIVE];
-			taskbar->bar_name.area.gradients = panel->g_taskbar.gradient_name[TASKBAR_ACTIVE];
+			taskbar->bar_name.area.gradients = g_list_copy(panel->g_taskbar.gradient_name[TASKBAR_ACTIVE]);
 		} else {
 			taskbar->bar_name.area.bg = panel->g_taskbar.background_name[TASKBAR_NORMAL];
-			taskbar->bar_name.area.gradients = panel->g_taskbar.gradient_name[TASKBAR_NORMAL];
+			taskbar->bar_name.area.gradients = g_list_copy(panel->g_taskbar.gradient_name[TASKBAR_NORMAL]);
 		}
 
 		// use desktop number if name is missing
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ void init_taskbarname_panel(void *p)
 
 		// append the name at the beginning of taskbar
 		taskbar->area.children = g_list_append(taskbar->area.children, &taskbar->bar_name);
-		init_area_gradients(&taskbar->bar_name.area);
+		instantiate_area_gradients(&taskbar->bar_name.area);
 	}
 
 	for (l = list; l; l = l->next)
diff --git a/src/util/area.c b/src/util/area.c
index d3c739e..2b00f49 100644
--- a/src/util/area.c
+++ b/src/util/area.c
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ void remove_area(Area *a)
 	Area *area = (Area *)a;
 	Area *parent = (Area *)area->parent;
 
-	free_area_gradients(a);
+	free_area_gradient_instances(a);
 
 	if (parent) {
 		parent->children = g_list_remove(parent->children, area);
@@ -589,7 +589,11 @@ void free_area(Area *a)
 	if (mouse_over_area == a) {
 		mouse_over_area = NULL;
 	}
-	free_area_gradients(a);
+	free_area_gradient_instances(a);
+	if (debug_gradients)
+		fprintf(stderr, YELLOW "freeing gradient list %p" RESET "\n", (void*)a->gradients);
+	g_list_free(a->gradients);
+	a->gradients = NULL;
 }
 
 void mouse_over(Area *area, int pressed)
@@ -887,7 +891,7 @@ void instantiate_gradient_point(GradientInstance *gi, ControlPoint *control)
 	instantiate_gradient_offsets(gi, control->offsets_r);
 }
 
-void free_gradient_point(GradientInstance *gi, ControlPoint *control)
+void free_gradient_instance_point(GradientInstance *gi, ControlPoint *control)
 {
 	free_gradient_offsets(gi, &control->offsets_x);
 	free_gradient_offsets(gi, &control->offsets_y);
@@ -904,18 +908,18 @@ void instantiate_gradient(Area *area, GradientClass *g, GradientInstance *gi)
 	instantiate_gradient_point(gi, &g->to);
 }
 
-void free_gradient(GradientInstance *gi)
+void free_gradient_instance(GradientInstance *gi)
 {
 	if (gi->pattern) {
 		cairo_pattern_destroy(gi->pattern);
 		gi->pattern = NULL;
 	}
-	free_gradient_point(gi, &gi->gradient_class->from);
-	free_gradient_point(gi, &gi->gradient_class->to);
+	free_gradient_instance_point(gi, &gi->gradient_class->from);
+	free_gradient_instance_point(gi, &gi->gradient_class->to);
 	gi->gradient_class = NULL;
 }
 
-void init_area_gradients(Area *area)
+void instantiate_area_gradients(Area *area)
 {
 	g_assert_null(area->gradient_instances);
 	if (debug_gradients)
@@ -928,13 +932,13 @@ void init_area_gradients(Area *area)
 	}
 }
 
-void free_area_gradients(Area *area)
+void free_area_gradient_instances(Area *area)
 {
 	if (debug_gradients)
 		fprintf(stderr, "Freeing gradients for area %s\n", area->name);
 	for (GList *l = area->gradient_instances; l; l = l->next) {
 		GradientInstance *gi = (GradientInstance *)l->data;
-		free_gradient(gi);
+		free_gradient_instance(gi);
 	}
 	g_list_free_full(area->gradient_instances, free);
 	area->gradient_instances = NULL;
diff --git a/src/util/area.h b/src/util/area.h
index bfd64ce..6dfea3b 100644
--- a/src/util/area.h
+++ b/src/util/area.h
@@ -311,8 +311,8 @@ gboolean area_is_under_mouse(void *obj, int x, int y);
 // they are outside the drawing area of the button.
 gboolean full_width_area_is_under_mouse(void *obj, int x, int y);
 
-void init_area_gradients(Area *area);
-void free_area_gradients(Area *area);
+void instantiate_area_gradients(Area *area);
+void free_area_gradient_instances(Area *area);
 
 void area_dump_geometry(Area *area, int indent);