diff --git a/src/xen/xen_inotify.c b/src/xen/xen_inotify.c
index 7deb1dbe99..9e0407f011 100644
--- a/src/xen/xen_inotify.c
+++ b/src/xen/xen_inotify.c
@@ -463,7 +463,6 @@ xenInotifyOpen(virConnectPtr conn ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
         DEBUG0("Failed to add inotify handle, disabling events");
     }
 
-    virConnectRef(conn);
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -486,7 +485,6 @@ xenInotifyClose(virConnectPtr conn)
     if (priv->inotifyWatch != -1)
         virEventRemoveHandle(priv->inotifyWatch);
     close(priv->inotifyFD);
-    virUnrefConnect(conn);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/xen/xs_internal.c b/src/xen/xs_internal.c
index 54f410f29c..0fabcf81ab 100644
--- a/src/xen/xs_internal.c
+++ b/src/xen/xs_internal.c
@@ -1141,8 +1141,6 @@ int xenStoreAddWatch(virConnectPtr conn,
     list->watches[n] = watch;
     list->count++;
 
-    conn->refs++;
-
     return xs_watch(priv->xshandle, watch->path, watch->token);
 }
 
@@ -1192,7 +1190,6 @@ int xenStoreRemoveWatch(virConnectPtr conn,
                 ; /* Failure to reduce memory allocation isn't fatal */
             }
             list->count--;
-            virUnrefConnect(conn);
             return 0;
         }
     }