diff --git a/src/plugins/directshow/player/directshowvideorenderercontrol.cpp b/src/plugins/directshow/player/directshowvideorenderercontrol.cpp
index da476488..6a1580ea 100644
--- a/src/plugins/directshow/player/directshowvideorenderercontrol.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/directshow/player/directshowvideorenderercontrol.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ DirectShowVideoRendererControl::DirectShowVideoRendererControl(DirectShowEventLo
 
 DirectShowVideoRendererControl::~DirectShowVideoRendererControl()
 {
-    delete m_filter;
+    if (m_filter)
+        m_filter->Release();
 }
 
 QAbstractVideoSurface *DirectShowVideoRendererControl::surface() const
@@ -68,7 +69,8 @@ void DirectShowVideoRendererControl::setSurface(QAbstractVideoSurface *surface)
 
         emit filterChanged();
 
-        delete existingFilter;
+        if (existingFilter)
+            existingFilter->Release();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/directshow/player/videosurfacefilter.cpp b/src/plugins/directshow/player/videosurfacefilter.cpp
index 901d2e90..1fa7329c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/directshow/player/videosurfacefilter.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/directshow/player/videosurfacefilter.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ VideoSurfaceFilter::VideoSurfaceFilter(
 
 VideoSurfaceFilter::~VideoSurfaceFilter()
 {
-    Q_ASSERT(m_ref == 1);
+    Q_ASSERT(m_ref == 0);
 }
 
 HRESULT VideoSurfaceFilter::QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void **ppvObject)
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ ULONG VideoSurfaceFilter::AddRef()
 ULONG VideoSurfaceFilter::Release()
 {
     ULONG ref = InterlockedDecrement(&m_ref);
-
-    Q_ASSERT(ref != 0);
+    if (ref == 0)
+        delete this;
 
     return ref;
 }