diff --git a/iphone/Classes/TiUIButton.m b/iphone/Classes/TiUIButton.m
index 4c15aa8ee9a..760b8d68e60 100644
--- a/iphone/Classes/TiUIButton.m
+++ b/iphone/Classes/TiUIButton.m
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ -(void)setBackgroundImage_:(id)value
 {
 	[backgroundImageCache release];
 	RELEASE_TO_NIL(backgroundImageUnstretchedCache);
-	backgroundImageCache = [TiUtils loadBackgroundImage:value forProxy:[self proxy]];
+	backgroundImageCache = [[self loadImage:value] retain];
     self.backgroundImage = value;
 	[self updateBackgroundImage];
 }
@@ -472,4 +472,4 @@ -(CGFloat)contentHeightForWidth:(CGFloat)value
 
 @end
 
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif