diff --git a/gtk/gtkwidget.c b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
index dc7d63fdaf..5d02fc1c6c 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkwidget.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
@@ -414,6 +414,7 @@ struct _GtkWidgetPrivate
 
   /* Animations and other things to update on clock ticks */
   GList *tick_callbacks;
+  guint clock_tick_id;
 
 #ifdef G_ENABLE_DEBUG
   /* Number of gtk_widget_push_verify_invariants () */
@@ -4566,12 +4567,11 @@ unref_tick_callback_info (GtkWidget           *widget,
       g_slice_free (GtkTickCallbackInfo, info);
     }
 
-  if (priv->tick_callbacks == NULL && priv->realized)
+  if (priv->tick_callbacks == NULL && priv->clock_tick_id)
     {
       GdkFrameClock *frame_clock = gtk_widget_get_frame_clock (widget);
-      g_signal_handlers_disconnect_by_func (frame_clock,
-                                            (gpointer) gtk_widget_on_frame_clock_update,
-                                            widget);
+      g_signal_handler_disconnect (frame_clock, priv->clock_tick_id);
+      priv->clock_tick_id = 0;
       gdk_frame_clock_end_updating (frame_clock);
     }
 }
@@ -4669,12 +4669,12 @@ gtk_widget_add_tick_callback (GtkWidget       *widget,
 
   priv = widget->priv;
 
-  if (priv->tick_callbacks == NULL && priv->realized)
+  if (priv->realized && !priv->clock_tick_id)
     {
       GdkFrameClock *frame_clock = gtk_widget_get_frame_clock (widget);
-      g_signal_connect (frame_clock, "update",
-                        G_CALLBACK (gtk_widget_on_frame_clock_update),
-                        widget);
+      priv->clock_tick_id = g_signal_connect (frame_clock, "update",
+                                              G_CALLBACK (gtk_widget_on_frame_clock_update),
+                                              widget);
       gdk_frame_clock_begin_updating (frame_clock);
     }
 
@@ -4730,11 +4730,11 @@ gtk_widget_connect_frame_clock (GtkWidget     *widget,
   if (GTK_IS_CONTAINER (widget))
     _gtk_container_maybe_start_idle_sizer (GTK_CONTAINER (widget));
 
-  if (priv->tick_callbacks != NULL)
+  if (priv->tick_callbacks != NULL && !priv->clock_tick_id)
     {
-      g_signal_connect (frame_clock, "update",
-                        G_CALLBACK (gtk_widget_on_frame_clock_update),
-                        widget);
+      priv->clock_tick_id = g_signal_connect (frame_clock, "update",
+                                              G_CALLBACK (gtk_widget_on_frame_clock_update),
+                                              widget);
       gdk_frame_clock_begin_updating (frame_clock);
     }
 
@@ -4751,11 +4751,10 @@ gtk_widget_disconnect_frame_clock (GtkWidget     *widget,
   if (GTK_IS_CONTAINER (widget))
     _gtk_container_stop_idle_sizer (GTK_CONTAINER (widget));
 
-  if (priv->tick_callbacks)
+  if (priv->clock_tick_id)
     {
-      g_signal_handlers_disconnect_by_func (frame_clock,
-                                            (gpointer) gtk_widget_on_frame_clock_update,
-                                            widget);
+      g_signal_handler_disconnect (frame_clock, priv->clock_tick_id);
+      priv->clock_tick_id = 0;
       gdk_frame_clock_end_updating (frame_clock);
     }