diff --git a/gdk/win32/gdkdevice-virtual.c b/gdk/win32/gdkdevice-virtual.c
index 2ed341f106..3a972855db 100644
--- a/gdk/win32/gdkdevice-virtual.c
+++ b/gdk/win32/gdkdevice-virtual.c
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ gdk_device_virtual_grab (GdkDevice    *device,
 	  g_clear_object (&_gdk_win32_grab_cursor);
 	}
 
-      _gdk_win32_grab_cursor = cursor;
+      _gdk_win32_grab_cursor = (cursor == NULL) ? NULL : g_object_ref (cursor);
 
       if (_gdk_win32_grab_cursor != NULL)
 	SetCursor (GDK_WIN32_CURSOR (_gdk_win32_grab_cursor)->hcursor);