diff --git a/src/ld-lua-symbol.c b/src/ld-lua-symbol.c
index 363c5cd..42fb31b 100644
--- a/src/ld-lua-symbol.c
+++ b/src/ld-lua-symbol.c
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ ld_lua_symbol_draw (LdSymbol *symbol, cairo_t *cr)
 	g_return_if_fail (cr != NULL);
 
 	self = LD_LUA_SYMBOL (symbol);
+
+	cairo_save (cr);
 	ld_lua_private_draw (self->priv->lua, self, cr);
+	cairo_restore (cr);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ld-symbol.c b/src/ld-symbol.c
index 42c01cd..5919b8e 100644
--- a/src/ld-symbol.c
+++ b/src/ld-symbol.c
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ ld_symbol_area_get_type (void)
  *
  * #LdSymbol represents a symbol in the #LdDocument that is in turn
  * drawn onto the #LdCanvas.
+ *
+ * All implementations of this abstract class are required to use
+ * cairo_save() and cairo_restore() when drawing to store the state.
  */
 
 G_DEFINE_ABSTRACT_TYPE (LdSymbol, ld_symbol, G_TYPE_OBJECT);