diff --git a/src/emu/emumem.h b/src/emu/emumem.h
index aeeef578500..ef47941290a 100644
--- a/src/emu/emumem.h
+++ b/src/emu/emumem.h
@@ -1844,6 +1844,7 @@ public:
 	};
 
 	memory_view(device_t &device, std::string name);
+	~memory_view();
 
 	memory_view_entry &operator[](int slot);
 
diff --git a/src/emu/emumem_mview.cpp b/src/emu/emumem_mview.cpp
index 34e6883b3c0..d8a442e8ff2 100644
--- a/src/emu/emumem_mview.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/emumem_mview.cpp
@@ -637,6 +637,14 @@ memory_view::memory_view(device_t &device, std::string name) : m_device(device),
 	device.view_register(this);
 }
 
+memory_view::~memory_view()
+{
+	if (m_handler_read) {
+		m_handler_read->unref();
+		m_handler_write->unref();
+	}
+}
+
 void memory_view::register_state()
 {
 	m_device.machine().save().save_item(&m_device, "view", m_name.c_str(), 0, NAME(m_cur_slot));
@@ -776,6 +784,8 @@ std::pair<handler_entry *, handler_entry *> memory_view::make_handlers(address_s
 		}
 
 		h_make(awidth, m_config->data_width(), m_config->addr_shift(), m_config->endianness(), space, *this, m_handler_read, m_handler_write);
+		m_handler_read->ref();
+		m_handler_write->ref();
 	}
 
 	return std::make_pair(m_handler_read, m_handler_write);