diff --git a/property.c b/property.c
index 5a41de7e..a59faa46 100644
--- a/property.c
+++ b/property.c
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ property_handle_net_wm_icon(void *data,
     if(c)
     {
         client_push(globalconf.L, c);
-        luaA_object_unref_item(globalconf.L, 1, c->icon);
+        luaA_object_unref_item(globalconf.L, -1, c->icon);
         if(ewmh_window_icon_from_reply(reply))
             c->icon = luaA_object_ref_item(globalconf.L, -2, -1);
         else