diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 3327ef9..fb77813 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -166,7 +166,8 @@ particle_list_from_config(const struct yml_node *node,
     }
 
     struct particle *list = particle_list_new(
-        parts, count, left_spacing, right_spacing, left_margin, right_margin);
+        parts, count, left_spacing, right_spacing, left_margin, right_margin,
+        true);
 
     free(parts);
     return list;
diff --git a/particles/list.c b/particles/list.c
index 45fb846..dfb6e9a 100644
--- a/particles/list.c
+++ b/particles/list.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ struct particle_private {
     struct particle **particles;
     size_t count;
     int left_spacing, right_spacing;
+    bool has_ownership;
 };
 
 struct exposable_private {
@@ -93,8 +94,12 @@ static void
 particle_destroy(struct particle *particle)
 {
     struct particle_private *p = particle->private;
-    for (size_t i = 0; i < p->count; i++)
-        p->particles[i]->destroy(p->particles[i]);
+
+    if (p->has_ownership) {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < p->count; i++)
+            p->particles[i]->destroy(p->particles[i]);
+    }
+
     free(p->particles);
     free(p);
     free(particle);
@@ -103,13 +108,15 @@ particle_destroy(struct particle *particle)
 struct particle *
 particle_list_new(
     struct particle *particles[], size_t count,
-    int left_spacing, int right_spacing, int left_margin, int right_margin)
+    int left_spacing, int right_spacing, int left_margin, int right_margin,
+    bool take_ownership)
 {
     struct particle_private *p = malloc(sizeof(*p));
     p->particles = malloc(count * sizeof(p->particles[0]));
     p->count = count;
     p->left_spacing = left_spacing;
     p->right_spacing = right_spacing;
+    p->has_ownership = take_ownership;
 
     for (size_t i = 0; i < count; i++)
         p->particles[i] = particles[i];
diff --git a/particles/list.h b/particles/list.h
index 5139ba3..49a89c0 100644
--- a/particles/list.h
+++ b/particles/list.h
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #pragma once
+
+#include <stdbool.h>
 #include "../particle.h"
 
 struct particle *particle_list_new(
     struct particle *particles[], size_t count,
-    int left_spacing, int right_spacing, int left_margin, int right_margin);
+    int left_spacing, int right_spacing, int left_margin, int right_margin,
+    bool take_ownership);