diff --git a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
index ea2ffedd4cb..5cb8cf6bed8 100644
--- a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
+++ b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@ bool QHostInfoResult::event(QEvent *event)
         // we didn't have a context object, or it's still alive
         if (!withContextObject || receiver)
             slotObj->call(const_cast<QObject*>(receiver.data()), args);
-        slotObj->destroyIfLastRef();
 
         deleteLater();
         return true;
diff --git a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h
index 2176b464aed..28654f4e141 100644
--- a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h
+++ b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ public:
             moveToThread(receiver->thread());
     }
 
+    ~QHostInfoResult()
+    {
+        if (slotObj)
+            slotObj->destroyIfLastRef();
+    }
+
     void postResultsReady(const QHostInfo &info);
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
@@ -64,6 +70,8 @@ private:
         : receiver(other->receiver), slotObj(other->slotObj),
           withContextObject(other->withContextObject)
     {
+        if (slotObj)
+            slotObj->ref();
         // cleanup if the application terminates before results are delivered
         connect(QCoreApplication::instance(), &QCoreApplication::aboutToQuit,
                 this, &QObject::deleteLater);