diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qobjectdefs_impl.h b/src/corelib/kernel/qobjectdefs_impl.h
index 68da6e04e79..a45792c5d7f 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qobjectdefs_impl.h
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qobjectdefs_impl.h
@@ -452,6 +452,12 @@ namespace QtPrivate {
 
     using SlotObjUniquePtr = std::unique_ptr<QSlotObjectBase,
                                              QSlotObjectBase::Deleter>;
+    inline SlotObjUniquePtr copy(const SlotObjUniquePtr &other) noexcept
+    {
+        if (other)
+            other->ref();
+        return SlotObjUniquePtr{other.get()};
+    }
 
     class SlotObjSharedPtr {
         SlotObjUniquePtr obj;
@@ -465,11 +471,7 @@ namespace QtPrivate {
             // (that's why (QSlotObjectBase*) ctor doesn't exisit: don't know whether that one _should_)
         }
         Q_NODISCARD_CTOR SlotObjSharedPtr(const SlotObjSharedPtr &other) noexcept
-            : obj(other.obj.get())
-        {
-            if (obj)
-                obj->ref();
-        }
+            : obj{copy(other.obj)} {}
         SlotObjSharedPtr &operator=(const SlotObjSharedPtr &other) noexcept
         { auto copy = other; swap(copy); return *this; }
 
diff --git a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h
index d883a33cdd2..6b755ab0c2c 100644
--- a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h
+++ b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo_p.h
@@ -61,11 +61,9 @@ protected:
 
 private:
     QHostInfoResult(const QHostInfoResult *other)
-        : receiver(other->receiver), slotObj(other->slotObj.get()), // ugly, but copy the pointer...
+        : receiver(other->receiver), slotObj{copy(other->slotObj)},
           withContextObject(other->withContextObject)
     {
-        if (slotObj)
-            slotObj->ref(); // ... and ref it here
         // cleanup if the application terminates before results are delivered
         connect(QCoreApplication::instance(), &QCoreApplication::aboutToQuit,
                 this, &QObject::deleteLater);