diff --git a/gtk/gtktreemodelfilter.c b/gtk/gtktreemodelfilter.c
index 7e4a8716ef..8844d9f278 100644
--- a/gtk/gtktreemodelfilter.c
+++ b/gtk/gtktreemodelfilter.c
@@ -2693,7 +2693,7 @@ gtk_tree_model_filter_row_deleted (GtkTreeModel *c_model,
       GtkTreePath *real_path;
 
       real_path = gtk_tree_model_filter_remove_root (c_path,
-                                                     filter->priv->root);
+                                                     filter->priv->virtual_root);
       if (real_path)
         {
           gtk_tree_model_filter_check_ancestors (filter, real_path);