diff --git a/gtk/gtkwidget.c b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
index 8e8d66325d..6d9c17f7a5 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkwidget.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
@@ -7210,6 +7210,7 @@ _gtk_widget_get_controllers_evmask (GtkWidget *widget)
   GList *l;
 
   priv = widget->priv;
+  g_object_ref (widget);
 
   for (l = priv->event_controllers; l; l = l->next)
     {
@@ -7240,6 +7241,8 @@ _gtk_widget_run_controllers (GtkWidget           *widget,
         handled |= gtk_event_controller_handle_event (data->controller, event);
     }
 
+  g_object_unref (widget);
+
   return handled;
 }