diff --git a/kernel/tty/device.c b/kernel/tty/device.c
index 5641125..c55112d 100644
--- a/kernel/tty/device.c
+++ b/kernel/tty/device.c
@@ -97,9 +97,10 @@ void tty_set_foreground(struct device *tty)
 	bool console_init = false;
 	if (foreground) {
 		console_init = true;
+		device_deref(foreground);
 	}
 
-	foreground = tty;
+	foreground = device_ref(tty);
 
 	if (!console_init) {
 		console_register(&tty_console);
@@ -123,11 +124,11 @@ kern_status_t tty_connect_foreground_input_device(struct device *input)
 		device_lock(prev);
 		input_device_remove_hook(prev, &foreground_input_hook);
 		device_unlock(prev);
+		device_deref(prev);
 		object_deref(&prev->dev_base);
 	}
 
-	object_ref(&input->dev_base);
-	foreground_input = input;
+	foreground_input = device_ref(input);
 	device_lock(input);
 	input_device_add_hook(input, &foreground_input_hook);
 	device_unlock(input);