diff --git a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
index 5cb8cf6bed8..e6cba483f9d 100644
--- a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
+++ b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
@@ -742,6 +742,8 @@ int QHostInfo::lookupHostImpl(const QString &name,
 
     if (!QAbstractEventDispatcher::instance(QThread::currentThread())) {
         qWarning("QHostInfo::lookupHost() called with no event dispatcher");
+        if (slotObj)
+            slotObj->destroyIfLastRef();
         return -1;
     }
 
@@ -802,6 +804,8 @@ int QHostInfo::lookupHostImpl(const QString &name,
             QObject::connect(&runnable->resultEmitter, SIGNAL(resultsReady(QHostInfo)),
                                 receiver, member, Qt::QueuedConnection);
         manager->scheduleLookup(runnable);
+    } else if (slotObj) {
+        slotObj->destroyIfLastRef();
     }
 #endif // Q_OS_WASM
     return id;