diff --git a/src/core/meta-idle-monitor.c b/src/core/meta-idle-monitor.c
index c99fc1050..4f853ea1b 100644
--- a/src/core/meta-idle-monitor.c
+++ b/src/core/meta-idle-monitor.c
@@ -653,8 +653,10 @@ meta_idle_monitor_remove_watch (MetaIdleMonitor *monitor,
 {
   g_return_if_fail (META_IS_IDLE_MONITOR (monitor));
 
+  g_object_ref (monitor);
   g_hash_table_remove (monitor->watches,
                        GUINT_TO_POINTER (id));
+  g_object_unref (monitor);
 }
 
 /**