diff --git a/io/channel-websock.c b/io/channel-websock.c
index 239c75a979..533bd4b3b5 100644
--- a/io/channel-websock.c
+++ b/io/channel-websock.c
@@ -317,14 +317,13 @@ static gboolean qio_channel_websock_handshake_io(QIOChannel *ioc,
         return TRUE;
     }
 
-    object_ref(OBJECT(task));
     trace_qio_channel_websock_handshake_reply(ioc);
     qio_channel_add_watch(
         wioc->master,
         G_IO_OUT,
         qio_channel_websock_handshake_send,
         task,
-        (GDestroyNotify)object_unref);
+        NULL);
     return FALSE;
 }