diff --git a/hw/acpi_piix4.c b/hw/acpi_piix4.c
index 0aace60f24..72d6e5c904 100644
--- a/hw/acpi_piix4.c
+++ b/hw/acpi_piix4.c
@@ -305,7 +305,6 @@ static void acpi_piix_eject_slot(PIIX4PMState *s, unsigned slots)
             if (pc->no_hotplug) {
                 slot_free = false;
             } else {
-                object_unparent(OBJECT(dev));
                 qdev_free(qdev);
             }
         }
diff --git a/hw/qdev.c b/hw/qdev.c
index b5b74b9135..b5a52ac503 100644
--- a/hw/qdev.c
+++ b/hw/qdev.c
@@ -159,7 +159,6 @@ int qdev_init(DeviceState *dev)
 
     rc = dc->init(dev);
     if (rc < 0) {
-        object_unparent(OBJECT(dev));
         qdev_free(dev);
         return rc;
     }
@@ -243,7 +242,6 @@ void qbus_reset_all_fn(void *opaque)
 int qdev_simple_unplug_cb(DeviceState *dev)
 {
     /* just zap it */
-    object_unparent(OBJECT(dev));
     qdev_free(dev);
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/hw/shpc.c b/hw/shpc.c
index 6b9884d544..a5baf246f1 100644
--- a/hw/shpc.c
+++ b/hw/shpc.c
@@ -253,7 +253,6 @@ static void shpc_free_devices_in_slot(SHPCDevice *shpc, int slot)
          ++devfn) {
         PCIDevice *affected_dev = shpc->sec_bus->devices[devfn];
         if (affected_dev) {
-            object_unparent(OBJECT(affected_dev));
             qdev_free(&affected_dev->qdev);
         }
     }
diff --git a/hw/xen_platform.c b/hw/xen_platform.c
index c1fe984f07..0d6c2ff8c3 100644
--- a/hw/xen_platform.c
+++ b/hw/xen_platform.c
@@ -87,9 +87,6 @@ static void unplug_nic(PCIBus *b, PCIDevice *d, void *o)
 {
     if (pci_get_word(d->config + PCI_CLASS_DEVICE) ==
             PCI_CLASS_NETWORK_ETHERNET) {
-        /* Until qdev_free includes a call to object_unparent, we call it here
-         */
-        object_unparent(&d->qdev.parent_obj);
         qdev_free(&d->qdev);
     }
 }
diff --git a/qom/object.c b/qom/object.c
index a552be258e..e3e9242638 100644
--- a/qom/object.c
+++ b/qom/object.c
@@ -373,8 +373,6 @@ static void object_deinit(Object *obj, TypeImpl *type)
     if (type_has_parent(type)) {
         object_deinit(obj, type_get_parent(type));
     }
-
-    object_unparent(obj);
 }
 
 void object_finalize(void *data)
@@ -411,8 +409,9 @@ Object *object_new(const char *typename)
 
 void object_delete(Object *obj)
 {
+    object_unparent(obj);
+    g_assert(obj->ref == 1);
     object_unref(obj);
-    g_assert(obj->ref == 0);
     g_free(obj);
 }