diff --git a/libs/ardour/session.cc b/libs/ardour/session.cc
index c4dd2c7be4..3f4ec778a4 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/session.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/session.cc
@@ -735,6 +735,7 @@ Session::destroy ()
 
 	/* need to remove auditioner before monitoring section
 	 * otherwise it is re-connected */
+	auditioner->drop_references ();
 	auditioner.reset ();
 
 	/* drop references to routes held by the monitoring section