diff --git a/src/window.c b/src/window.c
index 89594dd..7248d2d 100644
--- a/src/window.c
+++ b/src/window.c
@@ -379,8 +379,8 @@ void tickit_window_destroy(TickitWindow *win)
   for(TickitWindow *child = win->first_child; child; /**/) {
     TickitWindow *next = child->next;
 
-    tickit_window_unref(child);
     child->parent = NULL;
+    tickit_window_unref(child);
     child = next;
   }