diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/windows/uiautomation/qwindowsuiamainprovider.cpp b/src/plugins/platforms/windows/uiautomation/qwindowsuiamainprovider.cpp
index fd7af9ce83..bf44795fe7 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/windows/uiautomation/qwindowsuiamainprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/windows/uiautomation/qwindowsuiamainprovider.cpp
@@ -235,8 +235,9 @@ HRESULT STDMETHODCALLTYPE QWindowsUiaMainProvider::QueryInterface(REFIID iid, LP
         if (accessible && hwndForAccessible(accessible)) {
             result = S_OK;
         } else {
+            Release();
             result = E_NOINTERFACE;
-            iface = nullptr;
+            *iface = nullptr;
         }
     }