diff --git a/test/simple/test-timers-unref.js b/test/simple/test-timers-unref.js
index 1c362cb836f1..17e107326b2b 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-timers-unref.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-timers-unref.js
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ setTimeout(function() {
 interval = setInterval(function() {
   unref_interval = true;
   clearInterval(interval);
-}, SHORT_TIME).unref();
+}, SHORT_TIME);
+interval.unref();
 
 setTimeout(function() {
   unref_timer = true;