diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 57d8261..d50336f 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class Timer {
       this._expiry = now + this._list.ms
       this._list.push(this)
     } else {
-      if (this._refed === true) decRef()
+      if (this._refed === true) this.unref()
       this._list = null
     }
     // apply at the bottom to avoid re-entries...
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class Timer {
   _clear () {
     if (this._list === null) return
     this._list.clear(this)
-    if (this._refed === true) decRef()
+    if (this._refed === true) this.unref()
     this._list = null
 
     maybeUpdateTimer()
diff --git a/test/unref.js b/test/unref.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b389b8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unref.js
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+const test = require('brittle')
+const timers = require('..')
+
+test('unref and a timer stays alive', async function (t) {
+  t.plan(1)
+
+  const unreffed = timers.setTimeout(run, 10)
+
+  function run () {
+    unreffed.unref()
+    timers.setTimeout(function () {
+      t.pass('timer triggered')
+    }, 50)
+  }
+})