diff --git a/src/fu-usb-backend.c b/src/fu-usb-backend.c
index 7cd5d5446..610b6d4fe 100644
--- a/src/fu-usb-backend.c
+++ b/src/fu-usb-backend.c
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ fu_usb_backend_device_removed_cb(GUsbContext *ctx, GUsbDevice *usb_device, FuBac
 		fu_backend_device_removed(backend, device_tmp);
 }
 
+static void
+fu_usb_backend_context_finalized_cb(gpointer data, GObject *where_the_object_was)
+{
+	g_critical("GUsbContext %p was finalized from under our feet!", where_the_object_was);
+}
+
 static gboolean
 fu_usb_backend_setup(FuBackend *backend, GError **error)
 {
@@ -53,6 +59,7 @@ fu_usb_backend_setup(FuBackend *backend, GError **error)
 		g_prefix_error(error, "failed to get USB context: ");
 		return FALSE;
 	}
+	g_object_weak_ref(G_OBJECT(self->usb_ctx), fu_usb_backend_context_finalized_cb, self);
 	g_signal_connect(self->usb_ctx,
 			 "device-added",
 			 G_CALLBACK(fu_usb_backend_device_added_cb),
@@ -77,8 +84,13 @@ static void
 fu_usb_backend_finalize(GObject *object)
 {
 	FuUsbBackend *self = FU_USB_BACKEND(object);
-	if (self->usb_ctx != NULL)
+
+	if (self->usb_ctx != NULL) {
+		g_object_weak_unref(G_OBJECT(self->usb_ctx),
+				    fu_usb_backend_context_finalized_cb,
+				    self);
 		g_object_unref(self->usb_ctx);
+	}
 	G_OBJECT_CLASS(fu_usb_backend_parent_class)->finalize(object);
 }