diff --git a/gtk/gtkaction.c b/gtk/gtkaction.c
index fe5336228d..6bb0ae9d7b 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkaction.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkaction.c
@@ -791,18 +791,20 @@ _gtk_action_emit_activate (GtkAction *action)
 {
   GtkActionGroup *group = action->private_data->action_group;
 
-  if (group != NULL) 
+  if (group != NULL)
     {
+      g_object_ref (action);
       g_object_ref (group);
       _gtk_action_group_emit_pre_activate (group, action);
     }
 
-    g_signal_emit (action, action_signals[ACTIVATE], 0);
+  g_signal_emit (action, action_signals[ACTIVATE], 0);
 
-  if (group != NULL) 
+  if (group != NULL)
     {
       _gtk_action_group_emit_post_activate (group, action);
       g_object_unref (group);
+      g_object_unref (action);
     }
 }