diff --git a/src/apprt/gtk/class/surface.zig b/src/apprt/gtk/class/surface.zig
index e6cfe5c50..59d8ed0f7 100644
--- a/src/apprt/gtk/class/surface.zig
+++ b/src/apprt/gtk/class/surface.zig
@@ -853,14 +853,24 @@ pub const Surface = extern struct {
 
     pub fn bindIsSplit(self: *Self, tree: *SplitTree) void {
         const priv = self.private();
-        if (priv.is_split_binding) |bind| bind.unbind();
+        if (priv.is_split_binding) |binding| {
+            binding.unbind();
+            binding.unref();
+            priv.is_split_binding = null;
+        }
 
-        priv.is_split_binding = tree.as(gobject.Object).bindProperty(
+        const binding = tree.as(gobject.Object).bindProperty(
             "is-split",
             self.as(gobject.Object),
             "is-split",
             .{ .sync_create = true },
         );
+        // The ref created by bindProperty is owned by the binding itself.
+        // We need another ref to prevent the binding object from being
+        // freed if the source object (SplitTree) is finalized. Otherwise
+        // our pointer to the binding could become stale.
+        binding.ref();
+        priv.is_split_binding = binding;
     }
 
     /// Callback used to determine whether unfocused-split-fill / unfocused-split-opacity
@@ -1881,6 +1891,12 @@ pub const Surface = extern struct {
             priv.config = null;
         }
 
+        if (priv.is_split_binding) |binding| {
+            binding.unbind();
+            binding.unref();
+            priv.is_split_binding = null;
+        }
+
         if (priv.vadj_signal_group) |group| {
             group.setTarget(null);
             group.as(gobject.Object).unref();
diff --git a/src/apprt/gtk/class/surface_scrolled_window.zig b/src/apprt/gtk/class/surface_scrolled_window.zig
index 6ccb0a0d2..ad9a4cc7e 100644
--- a/src/apprt/gtk/class/surface_scrolled_window.zig
+++ b/src/apprt/gtk/class/surface_scrolled_window.zig
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ pub const SurfaceScrolledWindow = extern struct {
         const priv = self.private();
 
         if (priv.config_binding) |binding| {
-            binding.as(gobject.Object).unref();
+            binding.unbind();
+            binding.unref();
             priv.config_binding = null;
         }
 
@@ -168,18 +169,23 @@ pub const SurfaceScrolledWindow = extern struct {
 
         // Unbind old config binding if it exists
         if (priv.config_binding) |binding| {
-            binding.as(gobject.Object).unref();
+            binding.unbind();
+            binding.unref();
             priv.config_binding = null;
         }
 
         // Bind config from surface to our config property
         if (priv.surface) |surface| {
-            priv.config_binding = surface.as(gobject.Object).bindProperty(
+            const binding = surface.as(gobject.Object).bindProperty(
                 properties.config.name,
                 self.as(gobject.Object),
                 properties.config.name,
                 .{ .sync_create = true },
             );
+            // Keep another ref, otherwise the binding would be freed and
+            // our pointer become stale if the surface gets finalized.
+            binding.ref();
+            priv.config_binding = binding;
         }
     }