diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/windows/qwindowssystemtrayicon.cpp b/src/plugins/platforms/windows/qwindowssystemtrayicon.cpp
index 6c88c5008df..ed88e250a21 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/windows/qwindowssystemtrayicon.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/windows/qwindowssystemtrayicon.cpp
@@ -220,11 +220,16 @@ void QWindowsSystemTrayIcon::showMessage(const QString &title, const QString &me
 
     const auto size = icon.actualSize(QSize(256, 256));
     QPixmap pm = icon.pixmap(size);
+    if (m_hMessageIcon) {
+        DestroyIcon(m_hMessageIcon);
+        m_hMessageIcon = nullptr;
+    }
     if (pm.isNull()) {
         tnd.dwInfoFlags = NIIF_INFO;
     } else {
         tnd.dwInfoFlags = NIIF_USER | NIIF_LARGE_ICON;
-        tnd.hBalloonIcon = qt_pixmapToWinHICON(pm);
+        m_hMessageIcon = qt_pixmapToWinHICON(pm);
+        tnd.hBalloonIcon = m_hMessageIcon;
     }
     tnd.hWnd = m_hwnd;
     tnd.uTimeout = msecsIn <= 0 ?  UINT(10000) : UINT(msecsIn); // 10s default
@@ -282,7 +287,10 @@ void QWindowsSystemTrayIcon::ensureCleanup()
     }
     if (m_hIcon != nullptr)
         DestroyIcon(m_hIcon);
+    if (m_hMessageIcon != nullptr)
+        DestroyIcon(m_hMessageIcon);
     m_hIcon = nullptr;
+    m_hMessageIcon = nullptr;
     m_menu = nullptr; // externally owned
     m_toolTip.clear();
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/windows/qwindowssystemtrayicon.h b/src/plugins/platforms/windows/qwindowssystemtrayicon.h
index 2545ae91012..a50865c950f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/windows/qwindowssystemtrayicon.h
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/windows/qwindowssystemtrayicon.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ private:
     QString m_toolTip;
     HWND m_hwnd = nullptr;
     HICON m_hIcon = nullptr;
+    HICON m_hMessageIcon = nullptr;
     mutable QPointer<QWindowsPopupMenu> m_menu;
     bool m_ignoreNextMouseRelease = false;
     bool m_visible = false;