diff --git a/database-sqlite.c b/database-sqlite.c
index a9f0a6d..8e7600f 100644
--- a/database-sqlite.c
+++ b/database-sqlite.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ zathura_sqldatabase_new(const char* path)
   zathura_database_t* db = g_object_new(ZATHURA_TYPE_SQLDATABASE, "path", path, NULL);
   zathura_sqldatabase_private_t* priv = ZATHURA_SQLDATABASE_GET_PRIVATE(db);
   if (priv->session == NULL) {
-    g_object_unref(db);
+    g_object_unref(G_OBJECT(db));
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/database.c b/database.c
index d042747..81e3a27 100644
--- a/database.c
+++ b/database.c
@@ -9,16 +9,6 @@ zathura_database_default_init(ZathuraDatabaseInterface* GIRARA_UNUSED(iface))
 {
 }
 
-void
-zathura_db_free(zathura_database_t* db)
-{
-  if (db == NULL) {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  g_object_unref(db);
-}
-
 bool
 zathura_db_add_bookmark(zathura_database_t* db, const char* file,
                         zathura_bookmark_t* bookmark)
diff --git a/database.h b/database.h
index 5161b35..0c8dd44 100644
--- a/database.h
+++ b/database.h
@@ -50,13 +50,6 @@ struct _ZathuraDatabaseInterface
 
 GType zathura_database_get_type(void);
 
-/**
- * Free database instance.
- *
- * @param db The database instance to free.
- */
-void zathura_db_free(zathura_database_t* db);
-
 /**
  * Add or update bookmark in the database.
  *
diff --git a/zathura.c b/zathura.c
index 80bf2fb..4762e8f 100644
--- a/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura.c
@@ -287,7 +287,9 @@ zathura_free(zathura_t* zathura)
   girara_list_free(zathura->bookmarks.bookmarks);
 
   /* database */
-  zathura_db_free(zathura->database);
+  if (zathura->database != NULL) {
+    g_object_unref(G_OBJECT(zathura->database));
+  }
 
   /* free print settings */
   if (zathura->print.settings != NULL) {