diff --git a/doc/api/http2.md b/doc/api/http2.md
index 4f2f8000cf80f7..d1c96ea0fd46a7 100644
--- a/doc/api/http2.md
+++ b/doc/api/http2.md
@@ -413,78 +413,23 @@ session.ping(Buffer.from('abcdefgh'), (err, duration, payload) => {
 If the `payload` argument is not specified, the default payload will be the
 64-bit timestamp (little endian) marking the start of the `PING` duration.
 
-#### http2session.remoteSettings
+#### http2session.ref()
 <!-- YAML
-added: v8.4.0
+added: REPLACEME
 -->
 
-* Value: {[Settings Object][]}
+Calls [`ref()`][`net.Socket.prototype.ref`] on this `Http2Session`
+instance's underlying [`net.Socket`].
 
-A prototype-less object describing the current remote settings of this
-`Http2Session`. The remote settings are set by the *connected* HTTP/2 peer.
-
-#### http2session.request(headers[, options])
+#### http2session.remoteSettings
 <!-- YAML
 added: v8.4.0
 -->
 
-* `headers` {[Headers Object][]}
-* `options` {Object}
-  * `endStream` {boolean} `true` if the `Http2Stream` *writable* side should
-    be closed initially, such as when sending a `GET` request that should not
-    expect a payload body.
-  * `exclusive` {boolean} When `true` and `parent` identifies a parent Stream,
-    the created stream is made the sole direct dependency of the parent, with
-    all other existing dependents made a dependent of the newly created stream.
-    **Default:** `false`
-  * `parent` {number} Specifies the numeric identifier of a stream the newly
-    created stream is dependent on.
-  * `weight` {number} Specifies the relative dependency of a stream in relation
-    to other streams with the same `parent`. The value is a number between `1`
-    and `256` (inclusive).
-  * `getTrailers` {Function} Callback function invoked to collect trailer
-    headers.
-
-* Returns: {ClientHttp2Stream}
-
-For HTTP/2 Client `Http2Session` instances only, the `http2session.request()`
-creates and returns an `Http2Stream` instance that can be used to send an
-HTTP/2 request to the connected server.
-
-This method is only available if `http2session.type` is equal to
-`http2.constants.NGHTTP2_SESSION_CLIENT`.
-
-```js
-const http2 = require('http2');
-const clientSession = http2.connect('https://localhost:1234');
-const {
-  HTTP2_HEADER_PATH,
-  HTTP2_HEADER_STATUS
-} = http2.constants;
-
-const req = clientSession.request({ [HTTP2_HEADER_PATH]: '/' });
-req.on('response', (headers) => {
-  console.log(headers[HTTP2_HEADER_STATUS]);
-  req.on('data', (chunk) => { /** .. **/ });
-  req.on('end', () => { /** .. **/ });
-});
-```
-
-When set, the `options.getTrailers()` function is called immediately after
-queuing the last chunk of payload data to be sent. The callback is passed a
-single object (with a `null` prototype) that the listener may used to specify
-the trailing header fields to send to the peer.
-
-*Note*: The HTTP/1 specification forbids trailers from containing HTTP/2
-"pseudo-header" fields (e.g. `':method'`, `':path'`, etc). An `'error'` event
-will be emitted if the `getTrailers` callback attempts to set such header
-fields.
-
-The the `:method` and `:path` pseudoheaders are not specified within `headers`,
-they respectively default to:
+* Value: {[Settings Object][]}
 
-* `:method` = `'GET'`
-* `:path` = `/`
+A prototype-less object describing the current remote settings of this
+`Http2Session`. The remote settings are set by the *connected* HTTP/2 peer.
 
 #### http2session.setTimeout(msecs, callback)
 <!-- YAML
@@ -605,6 +550,82 @@ The `http2session.type` will be equal to
 server, and `http2.constants.NGHTTP2_SESSION_CLIENT` if the instance is a
 client.
 
+#### http2session.unref()
+<!-- YAML
+added: REPLACEME
+-->
+
+Calls [`unref()`][`net.Socket.prototype.unref`] on this `Http2Session`
+instance's underlying [`net.Socket`].
+
+### Class: ClientHttp2Session
+<!-- YAML
+added: v8.4.0
+-->
+
+#### clienthttp2session.request(headers[, options])
+<!-- YAML
+added: v8.4.0
+-->
+
+* `headers` {[Headers Object][]}
+* `options` {Object}
+  * `endStream` {boolean} `true` if the `Http2Stream` *writable* side should
+    be closed initially, such as when sending a `GET` request that should not
+    expect a payload body.
+  * `exclusive` {boolean} When `true` and `parent` identifies a parent Stream,
+    the created stream is made the sole direct dependency of the parent, with
+    all other existing dependents made a dependent of the newly created stream.
+    **Default:** `false`
+  * `parent` {number} Specifies the numeric identifier of a stream the newly
+    created stream is dependent on.
+  * `weight` {number} Specifies the relative dependency of a stream in relation
+    to other streams with the same `parent`. The value is a number between `1`
+    and `256` (inclusive).
+  * `getTrailers` {Function} Callback function invoked to collect trailer
+    headers.
+
+* Returns: {ClientHttp2Stream}
+
+For HTTP/2 Client `Http2Session` instances only, the `http2session.request()`
+creates and returns an `Http2Stream` instance that can be used to send an
+HTTP/2 request to the connected server.
+
+This method is only available if `http2session.type` is equal to
+`http2.constants.NGHTTP2_SESSION_CLIENT`.
+
+```js
+const http2 = require('http2');
+const clientSession = http2.connect('https://localhost:1234');
+const {
+  HTTP2_HEADER_PATH,
+  HTTP2_HEADER_STATUS
+} = http2.constants;
+
+const req = clientSession.request({ [HTTP2_HEADER_PATH]: '/' });
+req.on('response', (headers) => {
+  console.log(headers[HTTP2_HEADER_STATUS]);
+  req.on('data', (chunk) => { /** .. **/ });
+  req.on('end', () => { /** .. **/ });
+});
+```
+
+When set, the `options.getTrailers()` function is called immediately after
+queuing the last chunk of payload data to be sent. The callback is passed a
+single object (with a `null` prototype) that the listener may used to specify
+the trailing header fields to send to the peer.
+
+*Note*: The HTTP/1 specification forbids trailers from containing HTTP/2
+"pseudo-header" fields (e.g. `':method'`, `':path'`, etc). An `'error'` event
+will be emitted if the `getTrailers` callback attempts to set such header
+fields.
+
+The `:method` and `:path` pseudoheaders are not specified within `headers`,
+they respectively default to:
+
+* `:method` = `'GET'`
+* `:path` = `/`
+
 ### Class: Http2Stream
 <!-- YAML
 added: v8.4.0
@@ -1669,9 +1690,9 @@ changes:
     [`Duplex`][] stream that is to be used as the connection for this session.
   * ...: Any [`net.connect()`][] or [`tls.connect()`][] options can be provided.
 * `listener` {Function}
-* Returns {Http2Session}
+* Returns {ClientHttp2Session}
 
-Returns a HTTP/2 client `Http2Session` instance.
+Returns a `ClientHttp2Session` instance.
 
 ```js
 const http2 = require('http2');
@@ -2806,6 +2827,8 @@ if the stream is closed.
 [`http2.createServer()`]: #http2_http2_createserver_options_onrequesthandler
 [`http2stream.pushStream()`]: #http2_http2stream_pushstream_headers_options_callback
 [`net.Socket`]: net.html#net_class_net_socket
+[`net.Socket.prototype.ref`]: net.html#net_socket_ref
+[`net.Socket.prototype.unref`]: net.html#net_socket_unref
 [`net.connect()`]: net.html#net_net_connect
 [`request.socket.getPeerCertificate()`]: tls.html#tls_tlssocket_getpeercertificate_detailed
 [`response.end()`]: #http2_response_end_data_encoding_callback
diff --git a/lib/internal/http2/core.js b/lib/internal/http2/core.js
index c4dd547178d90d..fa45554adee102 100644
--- a/lib/internal/http2/core.js
+++ b/lib/internal/http2/core.js
@@ -1124,6 +1124,18 @@ class Http2Session extends EventEmitter {
 
     process.nextTick(emit, this, 'timeout');
   }
+
+  ref() {
+    if (this[kSocket]) {
+      this[kSocket].ref();
+    }
+  }
+
+  unref() {
+    if (this[kSocket]) {
+      this[kSocket].unref();
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 // ServerHttp2Session instances should never have to wait for the socket
diff --git a/lib/net.js b/lib/net.js
index 332e69219d5b61..540de753641e88 100644
--- a/lib/net.js
+++ b/lib/net.js
@@ -1133,7 +1133,9 @@ Socket.prototype.ref = function() {
     return this;
   }
 
-  this._handle.ref();
+  if (typeof this._handle.ref === 'function') {
+    this._handle.ref();
+  }
 
   return this;
 };
@@ -1145,7 +1147,9 @@ Socket.prototype.unref = function() {
     return this;
   }
 
-  this._handle.unref();
+  if (typeof this._handle.unref === 'function') {
+    this._handle.unref();
+  }
 
   return this;
 };
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http2-session-unref.js b/test/parallel/test-http2-session-unref.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..e765352cdc615d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http2-session-unref.js
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+'use strict';
+// Flags: --expose-internals
+
+// Tests that calling unref() on Http2Session:
+// (1) Prevents it from keeping the process alive
+// (2) Doesn't crash
+
+const common = require('../common');
+if (!common.hasCrypto)
+  common.skip('missing crypto');
+const http2 = require('http2');
+const makeDuplexPair = require('../common/duplexpair');
+
+const server = http2.createServer();
+const { clientSide, serverSide } = makeDuplexPair();
+
+// 'session' event should be emitted 3 times:
+// - the vanilla client
+// - the destroyed client
+// - manual 'connection' event emission with generic Duplex stream
+server.on('session', common.mustCallAtLeast((session) => {
+  session.unref();
+}, 3));
+
+server.listen(0, common.mustCall(() => {
+  const port = server.address().port;
+
+  // unref new client
+  {
+    const client = http2.connect(`http://localhost:${port}`);
+    client.unref();
+  }
+
+  // unref destroyed client
+  {
+    const client = http2.connect(`http://localhost:${port}`);
+    client.destroy();
+    client.unref();
+  }
+
+  // unref destroyed client
+  {
+    const client = http2.connect(`http://localhost:${port}`, {
+      createConnection: common.mustCall(() => clientSide)
+    });
+    client.destroy();
+    client.unref();
+  }
+}));
+server.emit('connection', serverSide);
+server.unref();
+
+setTimeout(common.mustNotCall(() => {}), 1000).unref();