diff --git a/include/qom/object.h b/include/qom/object.h
index 1d7b7e5a79..54a548868c 100644
--- a/include/qom/object.h
+++ b/include/qom/object.h
@@ -1766,4 +1766,7 @@ Object *container_get(Object *root, const char *path);
  * Returns the instance_size of the given @typename.
  */
 size_t object_type_get_instance_size(const char *typename);
+
+G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC(Object, object_unref)
+
 #endif