diff --git a/js/xpconnect/src/XPCJSRuntime.cpp b/js/xpconnect/src/XPCJSRuntime.cpp
index 17fe5b62b608..4f20015b3240 100644
--- a/js/xpconnect/src/XPCJSRuntime.cpp
+++ b/js/xpconnect/src/XPCJSRuntime.cpp
@@ -2362,7 +2362,6 @@ XPCJSRuntime::XPCJSRuntime(nsXPConnect* aXPConnect)
    mWatchdogThread(nullptr),
    mWatchdogHibernating(false),
    mLastActiveTime(-1),
-   mReleaseRunnable(nullptr),
    mExceptionManagerNotAvailable(false)
 {
 #ifdef XPC_CHECK_WRAPPERS_AT_SHUTDOWN
diff --git a/js/xpconnect/src/xpcprivate.h b/js/xpconnect/src/xpcprivate.h
index 6c8097920210..f60d86d3eacf 100644
--- a/js/xpconnect/src/xpcprivate.h
+++ b/js/xpconnect/src/xpcprivate.h
@@ -965,7 +965,7 @@ private:
     nsTArray<JSGCCallback> extraGCCallbacks;
     bool mWatchdogHibernating;
     PRTime mLastActiveTime; // -1 if active NOW
-    XPCIncrementalReleaseRunnable *mReleaseRunnable;
+    nsRefPtr<XPCIncrementalReleaseRunnable> mReleaseRunnable;
     js::GCSliceCallback mPrevGCSliceCallback;
 
     nsCOMPtr<nsIException>   mPendingException;