diff --git a/src/io_thread.c b/src/io_thread.c
index fa6dee337..501cfe50a 100644
--- a/src/io_thread.c
+++ b/src/io_thread.c
@@ -123,15 +123,14 @@ io_thread_idle_add(GSourceFunc function, gpointer data)
 	return id;
 }
 
-guint
+GSource *
 io_thread_timeout_add_seconds(guint interval,
 			      GSourceFunc function, gpointer data)
 {
 	GSource *source = g_timeout_source_new_seconds(interval);
 	g_source_set_callback(source, function, data, NULL);
-	guint id = g_source_attach(source, io.context);
-	g_source_unref(source);
-	return id;
+	g_source_attach(source, io.context);
+	return source;
 }
 
 struct call_data {
diff --git a/src/io_thread.h b/src/io_thread.h
index c91597225..d1a203aa3 100644
--- a/src/io_thread.h
+++ b/src/io_thread.h
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ io_thread_inside(void);
 guint
 io_thread_idle_add(GSourceFunc function, gpointer data);
 
-guint
+G_GNUC_MALLOC
+GSource *
 io_thread_timeout_add_seconds(guint interval,
 			      GSourceFunc function, gpointer data);