diff --git a/src/base_object-inl.h b/src/base_object-inl.h
index 0b620ab864f67b..43bcdc6404fe79 100644
--- a/src/base_object-inl.h
+++ b/src/base_object-inl.h
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ void BaseObject::decrease_refcount() {
   unsigned int new_refcount = --metadata->strong_ptr_count;
   if (new_refcount == 0) {
     if (metadata->is_detached) {
-      delete this;
+      OnGCCollect();
     } else if (metadata->wants_weak_jsobj && !persistent_handle_.IsEmpty()) {
       MakeWeak();
     }
diff --git a/src/handle_wrap.cc b/src/handle_wrap.cc
index 447c0842b90d99..d8582918bb616a 100644
--- a/src/handle_wrap.cc
+++ b/src/handle_wrap.cc
@@ -84,7 +84,16 @@ void HandleWrap::Close(Local<Value> close_callback) {
 
 
 void HandleWrap::OnGCCollect() {
-  Close();
+  // When all references to a HandleWrap are lost and the object is supposed to
+  // be destroyed, we first call Close() to clean up the underlying libuv
+  // handle. The OnClose callback then acquires and destroys another reference
+  // to that object, and when that reference is lost, we perform the default
+  // action (i.e. destroying `this`).
+  if (state_ != kClosed) {
+    Close();
+  } else {
+    BaseObject::OnGCCollect();
+  }
 }