diff --git a/lib/timers.js b/lib/timers.js
index 668d5536c8186c..302a11e18b5624 100644
--- a/lib/timers.js
+++ b/lib/timers.js
@@ -301,6 +301,14 @@ const Timeout = function(after) {
   this._repeat = null;
 };
 
+
+function unrefdHandle() {
+  this.owner._onTimeout();
+  if (!this.owner.repeat)
+    this.owner.close();
+}
+
+
 Timeout.prototype.unref = function() {
   if (this._handle) {
     this._handle.unref();
@@ -315,7 +323,8 @@ Timeout.prototype.unref = function() {
     if (this._called && !this._repeat) return;
 
     this._handle = new Timer();
-    this._handle[kOnTimeout] = this._onTimeout;
+    this._handle.owner = this;
+    this._handle[kOnTimeout] = unrefdHandle;
     this._handle.start(delay, 0);
     this._handle.domain = this.domain;
     this._handle.unref();