diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-seat-impl.c b/src/backends/native/meta-seat-impl.c
index 0ecded4f7..d46318d6d 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-seat-impl.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-seat-impl.c
@@ -3920,8 +3920,13 @@ void
 meta_seat_impl_remove_virtual_input_device (MetaSeatImpl       *seat_impl,
                                             ClutterInputDevice *device)
 {
+  g_autoptr (ClutterInputDevice) owned_device = NULL;
   ClutterEvent *device_event;
 
+  g_assert (CLUTTER_IS_INPUT_DEVICE (device));
+
+  owned_device = g_object_ref (device);
+
   meta_seat_impl_remove_device (seat_impl, device);
 
   device_event = clutter_event_device_notify_new (CLUTTER_DEVICE_REMOVED,