diff --git a/gtk/gtkmaplistmodel.c b/gtk/gtkmaplistmodel.c
index ea43269c07..9334f0ee40 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkmaplistmodel.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkmaplistmodel.c
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ gtk_map_list_model_augment (GtkRbTree *map,
 
 /**
  * gtk_map_list_model_new:
- * @model: (allow-none): The model to map or %NULL for none
+ * @model: (transfer full) (allow-none): The model to map or %NULL for none
  * @map_func: (allow-none): map function or %NULL to not map items
  * @user_data: (closure): user data passed to @map_func
  * @user_destroy: destroy notifier for @user_data
@@ -435,6 +435,9 @@ gtk_map_list_model_new (GListModel             *model,
                          "model", model,
                          NULL);
 
+  /* consume the reference */
+  g_clear_object (&model);
+
   if (map_func)
     gtk_map_list_model_set_map_func (result, map_func, user_data, user_destroy);
 
diff --git a/gtk/inspector/controllers.c b/gtk/inspector/controllers.c
index 5c4bab15b5..9d1ef7ffaf 100644
--- a/gtk/inspector/controllers.c
+++ b/gtk/inspector/controllers.c
@@ -244,7 +244,6 @@ gtk_inspector_controllers_set_object (GtkInspectorControllers *self,
   gtk_property_lookup_list_model_set_object (self->model, object);
 
   map_model = gtk_map_list_model_new (G_LIST_MODEL (self->model), map_to_controllers, NULL, NULL);
-  g_object_unref (self->model);
 
   flatten_model = gtk_flatten_list_model_new (G_LIST_MODEL (map_model));
 
diff --git a/testsuite/gtk/maplistmodel.c b/testsuite/gtk/maplistmodel.c
index 94a437f842..975d1d20d6 100644
--- a/testsuite/gtk/maplistmodel.c
+++ b/testsuite/gtk/maplistmodel.c
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ new_model (GListStore *store)
   GtkMapListModel *result;
   GString *changes;
 
-  result = gtk_map_list_model_new (G_LIST_MODEL (store), map_multiply, GUINT_TO_POINTER (2), NULL);
+  result = gtk_map_list_model_new (g_object_ref (G_LIST_MODEL (store)), map_multiply, GUINT_TO_POINTER (2), NULL);
   changes = g_string_new ("");
   g_object_set_qdata_full (G_OBJECT(result), changes_quark, changes, free_changes);
   g_signal_connect (result, "items-changed", G_CALLBACK (items_changed), changes);