diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qcore_mac_p.h b/src/corelib/kernel/qcore_mac_p.h
index 30590ef2303..51efe0fe328 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qcore_mac_p.h
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qcore_mac_p.h
@@ -504,6 +504,9 @@ public:
     QObjCWeakPointer &operator=(const QObjCWeakPointer &other)
     {
         QMacAutoReleasePool pool;
+#if !USE_OBJC_WEAK
+        objc_setAssociatedObject(m_object, this, nil, OBJC_ASSOCIATION_RETAIN);
+#endif
         m_object = other.m_object;
 #if !USE_OBJC_WEAK
         trackObjectLifetime();