diff --git a/qapi/qobject-input-visitor.c b/qapi/qobject-input-visitor.c
index 7a290c4..da57f4c 100644
--- a/qapi/qobject-input-visitor.c
+++ b/qapi/qobject-input-visitor.c
@@ -588,8 +588,7 @@
         return;
     }
 
-    qobject_ref(qobj);
-    *obj = qobj;
+    *obj = qobject_ref(qobj);
 }
 
 static void qobject_input_type_null(Visitor *v, const char *name,
@@ -677,8 +676,7 @@
     v->visitor.optional = qobject_input_optional;
     v->visitor.free = qobject_input_free;
 
-    v->root = obj;
-    qobject_ref(obj);
+    v->root = qobject_ref(obj);
 
     return v;
 }