diff --git a/src/components/overlapping_box.rs b/src/components/overlapping_box.rs
index 56891884..3a3126f7 100644
--- a/src/components/overlapping_box.rs
+++ b/src/components/overlapping_box.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ mod imp {
         pub orientation: Cell<gtk::Orientation>,
 
         /// The list model that is bound, if any.
-        pub bound_model: RefCell<Option<BoundObjectWeakRef<gio::ListModel>>>,
+        pub bound_model: BoundObjectWeakRef<gio::ListModel>,
 
         /// The method used to create widgets from the items of the list model,
         /// if any.
@@ -102,9 +102,7 @@ mod imp {
                 widget.unparent();
             }
 
-            if let Some(bound_model) = self.bound_model.take() {
-                bound_model.disconnect_signals()
-            }
+            self.bound_model.disconnect_signals();
         }
     }
 
@@ -221,7 +219,7 @@ impl OverlappingBox {
                 widget.unparent()
             }
         } else if max_children == 0 || (old_max_children != 0 && max_children > old_max_children) {
-            let Some(model) = imp.bound_model.borrow().as_ref().and_then(|s| s.obj()) else {
+            let Some(model) = imp.bound_model.obj() else {
                 return;
             };
 
@@ -282,10 +280,8 @@ impl OverlappingBox {
     ) {
         let imp = self.imp();
 
-        if let Some(bound_model) = imp.bound_model.take() {
-            bound_model.disconnect_signals()
-        }
-        for child in self.imp().widgets.take() {
+        imp.bound_model.disconnect_signals();
+        for child in imp.widgets.take() {
             child.unparent();
         }
         imp.create_widget_func.take();
@@ -300,10 +296,8 @@ impl OverlappingBox {
             }),
         );
 
-        imp.bound_model.replace(Some(BoundObjectWeakRef::new(
-            model.upcast_ref(),
-            vec![signal_handler_id],
-        )));
+        imp.bound_model
+            .set(model.upcast_ref(), vec![signal_handler_id]);
 
         imp.create_widget_func
             .replace(Some(Box::new(create_widget_func)));
diff --git a/src/session/content/room_history/read_receipts_list.rs b/src/session/content/room_history/read_receipts_list.rs
index 292107a8..3163496d 100644
--- a/src/session/content/room_history/read_receipts_list.rs
+++ b/src/session/content/room_history/read_receipts_list.rs
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@ use crate::{
 const MAX_RECEIPTS_SHOWN: u32 = 10;
 
 mod imp {
-    use std::cell::RefCell;
-
     use glib::subclass::InitializingObject;
     use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
 
@@ -29,7 +27,7 @@ mod imp {
         pub overlapping_box: TemplateChild<OverlappingBox>,
 
         /// The read receipts that are bound, if any.
-        pub bound_receipts: RefCell<Option<BoundObjectWeakRef<ReadReceipts>>>,
+        pub bound_receipts: BoundObjectWeakRef<ReadReceipts>,
     }
 
     #[glib::object_subclass]
@@ -68,9 +66,7 @@ mod imp {
         }
 
         fn dispose(&self) {
-            if let Some(bound_receipts) = self.bound_receipts.take() {
-                bound_receipts.disconnect_signals()
-            }
+            self.bound_receipts.disconnect_signals();
         }
     }
 
@@ -91,20 +87,12 @@ impl ReadReceiptsList {
     }
 
     pub fn list(&self) -> Option<ReadReceipts> {
-        self.imp()
-            .bound_receipts
-            .borrow()
-            .as_ref()
-            .and_then(|r| r.obj())
+        self.imp().bound_receipts.obj()
     }
 
     pub fn set_list(&self, read_receipts: &ReadReceipts) {
         let imp = self.imp();
 
-        if let Some(bound_receipts) = imp.bound_receipts.take() {
-            bound_receipts.disconnect_signals();
-        }
-
         imp.overlapping_box.bind_model(Some(read_receipts), |obj| {
             let avatar_item = obj.downcast_ref::<Member>().unwrap().avatar();
             let avatar = Avatar::new();
@@ -119,10 +107,8 @@ impl ReadReceiptsList {
             }),
         );
 
-        imp.bound_receipts.replace(Some(BoundObjectWeakRef::new(
-            read_receipts,
-            vec![items_changed_handler_id],
-        )));
+        imp.bound_receipts
+            .set(read_receipts, vec![items_changed_handler_id]);
         self.update_label(read_receipts);
         self.notify("list");
     }
diff --git a/src/session/content/room_history/typing_row.rs b/src/session/content/room_history/typing_row.rs
index f8d65035..fd9fcffd 100644
--- a/src/session/content/room_history/typing_row.rs
+++ b/src/session/content/room_history/typing_row.rs
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ use crate::{
 };
 
 mod imp {
-    use std::cell::RefCell;
-
     use glib::subclass::InitializingObject;
     use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
 
@@ -25,7 +23,7 @@ mod imp {
         #[template_child]
         pub label: TemplateChild<gtk::Label>,
         /// The list of members that are currently typing.
-        pub bound_list: RefCell<Option<BoundObjectWeakRef<TypingList>>>,
+        pub bound_list: BoundObjectWeakRef<TypingList>,
     }
 
     #[glib::object_subclass]
@@ -79,9 +77,7 @@ mod imp {
         }
 
         fn dispose(&self) {
-            if let Some(bound_list) = self.bound_list.take() {
-                bound_list.disconnect_signals();
-            }
+            self.bound_list.disconnect_signals();
         }
     }
 
@@ -102,11 +98,7 @@ impl TypingRow {
 
     /// The list of members that are currently typing.
     pub fn list(&self) -> Option<TypingList> {
-        self.imp()
-            .bound_list
-            .borrow()
-            .as_ref()
-            .and_then(|bound_list| bound_list.obj())
+        self.imp().bound_list.obj()
     }
 
     /// Set the list of members that are currently typing.
@@ -118,9 +110,7 @@ impl TypingRow {
         let imp = self.imp();
         let prev_is_empty = self.is_empty();
 
-        if let Some(bound_list) = imp.bound_list.take() {
-            bound_list.disconnect_signals();
-        }
+        imp.bound_list.disconnect_signals();
 
         if let Some(list) = list {
             let items_changed_handler_id = list.connect_items_changed(
@@ -143,10 +133,10 @@ impl TypingRow {
                 avatar.upcast()
             });
 
-            imp.bound_list.replace(Some(BoundObjectWeakRef::new(
+            imp.bound_list.set(
                 list,
                 vec![items_changed_handler_id, is_empty_notify_handler_id],
-            )));
+            );
             self.update_label(list);
         }
 
diff --git a/src/utils/mod.rs b/src/utils/mod.rs
index bba14edb..be0babeb 100644
--- a/src/utils/mod.rs
+++ b/src/utils/mod.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ pub mod sourceview;
 pub mod template_callbacks;
 
 use std::{
+    cell::RefCell,
     path::PathBuf,
     rc::{Rc, Weak},
 };
@@ -157,19 +158,25 @@ pub static EMOJI_REGEX: Lazy<Regex> = Lazy::new(|| {
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct BoundObjectWeakRef<T: glib::ObjectType> {
     weak_obj: glib::WeakRef<T>,
-    signal_handler_ids: Vec<glib::SignalHandlerId>,
+    signal_handler_ids: RefCell<Vec<glib::SignalHandlerId>>,
 }
 
 impl<T: glib::ObjectType> BoundObjectWeakRef<T> {
-    /// Creates a new `BoundObjectWeakRef` with the given object and signal
-    /// handlers IDs.
-    pub fn new(obj: &T, signal_handler_ids: Vec<glib::SignalHandlerId>) -> Self {
-        let weak_obj = glib::WeakRef::new();
-        weak_obj.set(Some(obj));
-        Self {
-            weak_obj,
-            signal_handler_ids,
-        }
+    /// Creates a new empty `BoundObjectWeakRef` with the given object and
+    /// signal handlers IDs.
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self::default()
+    }
+
+    /// Set the given object and signal handlers IDs.
+    ///
+    /// Calls `disconnect_signals` first to remove the previous weak reference
+    /// and disconnect the previous signal handlers.
+    pub fn set(&self, obj: &T, signal_handler_ids: Vec<glib::SignalHandlerId>) {
+        self.disconnect_signals();
+
+        self.weak_obj.set(Some(obj));
+        self.signal_handler_ids.replace(signal_handler_ids);
     }
 
     /// Get a strong reference to the object.
@@ -179,18 +186,31 @@ impl<T: glib::ObjectType> BoundObjectWeakRef<T> {
 
     /// Add `SignalHandlerId`s to this `BoundObjectWeakRef`.
     pub fn add_signal_handler_ids(&mut self, signal_handler_ids: Vec<glib::SignalHandlerId>) {
-        self.signal_handler_ids.extend(signal_handler_ids);
+        self.signal_handler_ids
+            .borrow_mut()
+            .extend(signal_handler_ids);
     }
 
-    /// Disconnect the signal handlers.
-    ///
-    /// This is a no-op if the weak reference to the object can't be upgraded.
-    pub fn disconnect_signals(self) {
+    /// Disconnect the signal handlers and drop the weak reference.
+    pub fn disconnect_signals(&self) {
+        let signal_handler_ids = self.signal_handler_ids.take();
+
         if let Some(obj) = self.weak_obj.upgrade() {
-            for signal_handler_id in self.signal_handler_ids {
+            for signal_handler_id in signal_handler_ids {
                 obj.disconnect(signal_handler_id)
             }
         }
+
+        self.weak_obj.set(None);
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: glib::ObjectType> Default for BoundObjectWeakRef<T> {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            weak_obj: Default::default(),
+            signal_handler_ids: Default::default(),
+        }
     }
 }