diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/plugin_eq_gui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/plugin_eq_gui.cc
index f8a7df8959..df5b5a4726 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/plugin_eq_gui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/plugin_eq_gui.cc
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ PluginEqGui::stop_listening ()
 	if (_plugin) {
 		_plugin->deactivate ();
 		_plugin->drop_references ();
-		_plugin = 0;
+		_plugin.reset ();
 	}
 }