diff --git a/test/parallel/test-timers-unref.js b/test/parallel/test-timers-unref.js
index c4f9d820e5601f..9434dbbd36ad78 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-timers-unref.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-timers-unref.js
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ setTimeout(function() {
 interval = setInterval(function() {
   unref_interval = true;
   clearInterval(interval);
-}, SHORT_TIME).unref();
+}, SHORT_TIME);
+interval.unref();
 
 setTimeout(function() {
   unref_timer = true;