diff --git a/src/superqt/utils/_qthreading.py b/src/superqt/utils/_qthreading.py
index 669507a1..746e1f47 100644
--- a/src/superqt/utils/_qthreading.py
+++ b/src/superqt/utils/_qthreading.py
@@ -881,6 +881,7 @@ def work(self):
     worker.moveToThread(thread)
     thread.started.connect(worker.work)
     worker.finished.connect(thread.quit)
+    thread.finished.connect(worker.deleteLater)
     thread.finished.connect(thread.deleteLater)
 
     if _connect: