diff --git a/src/uvw/handle.hpp b/src/uvw/handle.hpp
index 8b9a50a0..cf037168 100644
--- a/src/uvw/handle.hpp
+++ b/src/uvw/handle.hpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ public:
     bool closing() const noexcept { return !(uv_is_closing(get<uv_handle_t>()) == 0); }
 
     void reference() noexcept { uv_ref(get<uv_handle_t>()); }
-    void unreference() noexcept { uv_ref(get<uv_handle_t>()); }
+    void unreference() noexcept { uv_unref(get<uv_handle_t>()); }
     bool referenced() const noexcept { return !(uv_has_ref(get<uv_handle_t>()) == 0); }
 
     void close(std::function<void(UVWError, T &)> cb) noexcept {