diff --git a/demos/gtk-demo/listview_colors.c b/demos/gtk-demo/listview_colors.c
index 94210bf9ce..a1533b8432 100644
--- a/demos/gtk-demo/listview_colors.c
+++ b/demos/gtk-demo/listview_colors.c
@@ -884,7 +884,7 @@ do_listview_colors (GtkWidget *do_widget)
 
       sort_model = gtk_sort_list_model_new (gtk_color_list_new (0), NULL);
       gtk_sort_list_model_set_incremental (sort_model, TRUE);
-      selection = GTK_MULTI_SELECTION (gtk_multi_selection_new (G_LIST_MODEL (sort_model)));
+      selection = gtk_multi_selection_new (G_LIST_MODEL (sort_model));
 
       window = gtk_window_new ();
       gtk_window_set_title (GTK_WINDOW (window), "Colors");
diff --git a/gtk/gtkmultiselection.c b/gtk/gtkmultiselection.c
index 6c754f77a8..c6e3474cb9 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkmultiselection.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkmultiselection.c
@@ -370,20 +370,27 @@ gtk_multi_selection_init (GtkMultiSelection *self)
 
 /**
  * gtk_multi_selection_new:
- * @model: (transfer none): the #GListModel to manage
+ * @model: (allow-none) (transfer full): the #GListModel to manage, or %NULL
  *
  * Creates a new selection to handle @model.
  *
- * Returns: (transfer full) (type GtkMultiSelection): a new #GtkMultiSelection
+ * Returns: (transfer full): a new #GtkMultiSelection
  **/
-GListModel *
+GtkMultiSelection *
 gtk_multi_selection_new (GListModel *model)
 {
+  GtkMultiSelection *self;
+
   g_return_val_if_fail (G_IS_LIST_MODEL (model), NULL);
 
-  return g_object_new (GTK_TYPE_MULTI_SELECTION,
+  self = g_object_new (GTK_TYPE_MULTI_SELECTION,
                        "model", model,
                        NULL);
+
+  /* consume the reference */
+  g_clear_object (&model);
+
+  return self;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/gtk/gtkmultiselection.h b/gtk/gtkmultiselection.h
index 69c8a69028..b8e0300ed1 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkmultiselection.h
+++ b/gtk/gtkmultiselection.h
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
 G_DECLARE_FINAL_TYPE (GtkMultiSelection, gtk_multi_selection, GTK, MULTI_SELECTION, GObject)
 
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
-GListModel *    gtk_multi_selection_new                (GListModel           *model);
+GtkMultiSelection * gtk_multi_selection_new                (GListModel           *model);
 
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
-GListModel *    gtk_multi_selection_get_model          (GtkMultiSelection    *self);
+GListModel *        gtk_multi_selection_get_model          (GtkMultiSelection    *self);
 GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
-void            gtk_multi_selection_set_model          (GtkMultiSelection    *self,
-                                                        GListModel           *model);
+void                gtk_multi_selection_set_model          (GtkMultiSelection    *self,
+                                                            GListModel           *model);
 
 G_END_DECLS
 
diff --git a/testsuite/gtk/multiselection.c b/testsuite/gtk/multiselection.c
index 3e3fa39c77..2c23168d07 100644
--- a/testsuite/gtk/multiselection.c
+++ b/testsuite/gtk/multiselection.c
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ new_model (GListStore *store)
   GtkSelectionModel *result;
   GString *changes;
 
-  result = GTK_SELECTION_MODEL (gtk_multi_selection_new (G_LIST_MODEL (store)));
+  result = GTK_SELECTION_MODEL (gtk_multi_selection_new (g_object_ref (G_LIST_MODEL (store))));
 
   changes = g_string_new ("");
   g_object_set_qdata_full (G_OBJECT(result), changes_quark, changes, free_changes);