diff --git a/testsuite/gtk/filter.c b/testsuite/gtk/filter.c
index 5c5fd707c7..2e88a21f7a 100644
--- a/testsuite/gtk/filter.c
+++ b/testsuite/gtk/filter.c
@@ -28,8 +28,11 @@ get (GListModel *model,
      guint       position)
 {
   GObject *object = g_list_model_get_item (model, position);
+  guint ret;
   g_assert (object != NULL);
-  return GPOINTER_TO_UINT (g_object_get_qdata (object, number_quark));
+  ret = GPOINTER_TO_UINT (g_object_get_qdata (object, number_quark));
+  g_object_unref (object);
+  return ret;
 }
 
 static char *