diff --git a/gtk/gtkfilechooserentry.c b/gtk/gtkfilechooserentry.c
index 02f9d5542f..577222c8a0 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkfilechooserentry.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkfilechooserentry.c
@@ -759,6 +759,7 @@ refresh_current_folder_and_file_part (GtkFileChooserEntry *chooser_entry)
       filter = gtk_file_filter_new ();
       pattern = g_strconcat (chooser_entry->file_part, "*", NULL);
       gtk_file_filter_add_pattern (filter, pattern);
+      g_object_ref_sink (filter);
 
       _gtk_file_system_model_set_filter (GTK_FILE_SYSTEM_MODEL (chooser_entry->completion_store),
                                          filter);