diff --git a/qom/object.c b/qom/object.c
index 00fdf89..b1822a2 100644
--- a/qom/object.c
+++ b/qom/object.c
@@ -1124,8 +1124,9 @@
                         object_class_cmp);
 }
 
-Object *object_ref(Object *obj)
+Object *object_ref(void *objptr)
 {
+    Object *obj = OBJECT(objptr);
     if (!obj) {
         return NULL;
     }
@@ -1133,8 +1134,9 @@
     return obj;
 }
 
-void object_unref(Object *obj)
+void object_unref(void *objptr)
 {
+    Object *obj = OBJECT(objptr);
     if (!obj) {
         return;
     }