diff --git a/dom/base/nsGlobalWindow.cpp b/dom/base/nsGlobalWindow.cpp
index 4b4cd5034f8e..0510d484485c 100644
--- a/dom/base/nsGlobalWindow.cpp
+++ b/dom/base/nsGlobalWindow.cpp
@@ -1143,7 +1143,6 @@ nsGlobalWindow::nsGlobalWindow(nsGlobalWindow *aOuterWindow)
 
     mObserver = new nsGlobalWindowObserver(this);
     if (mObserver) {
-      NS_ADDREF(mObserver);
       nsCOMPtr<nsIObserverService> os = mozilla::services::GetObserverService();
       if (os) {
         // Watch for online/offline status changes so we can fire events. Use
@@ -1163,8 +1162,6 @@ nsGlobalWindow::nsGlobalWindow(nsGlobalWindow *aOuterWindow)
     // remain frozen until they get an inner window, so freeze this
     // outer window here.
     Freeze();
-
-    mObserver = nullptr;
   }
 
   // We could have failed the first time through trying
@@ -1462,7 +1459,6 @@ nsGlobalWindow::CleanUp()
     // Drop its reference to this dying window, in case for some bogus reason
     // the object stays around.
     mObserver->Forget();
-    NS_RELEASE(mObserver);
   }
 
   if (mNavigator) {
diff --git a/dom/base/nsGlobalWindow.h b/dom/base/nsGlobalWindow.h
index 58485263d28f..0597ce35d1b8 100644
--- a/dom/base/nsGlobalWindow.h
+++ b/dom/base/nsGlobalWindow.h
@@ -1625,7 +1625,7 @@ protected:
   nsRefPtr<nsDOMWindowUtils>    mWindowUtils;
   nsString                      mStatus;
   nsString                      mDefaultStatus;
-  nsGlobalWindowObserver*       mObserver; // Inner windows only.
+  nsRefPtr<nsGlobalWindowObserver> mObserver; // Inner windows only.
   nsRefPtr<mozilla::dom::Crypto>  mCrypto;
   nsRefPtr<mozilla::dom::cache::CacheStorage> mCacheStorage;
   nsRefPtr<mozilla::dom::Console> mConsole;