diff --git a/src/lib/io/kdirwatch.cpp b/src/lib/io/kdirwatch.cpp
--- a/src/lib/io/kdirwatch.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/io/kdirwatch.cpp
@@ -244,9 +244,6 @@
 {
     timer.stop();
 
-    /* remove all entries being watched */
-    removeEntries(nullptr);
-
 #if HAVE_FAM
     if (use_fam && sn) {
         FAMClose(&fc);
@@ -452,6 +449,11 @@
 #endif
 }
 
+KDirWatchPrivate::Entry::~Entry()
+{
+    qDeleteAll(m_clients);
+}
+
 /* In FAM mode, only entries which are marked dirty are scanned.
  * We first need to mark all yet nonexistent, but possible created
  * entries as dirty...
diff --git a/src/lib/io/kdirwatch_p.h b/src/lib/io/kdirwatch_p.h
--- a/src/lib/io/kdirwatch_p.h
+++ b/src/lib/io/kdirwatch_p.h
@@ -83,8 +83,9 @@
     class Entry
     {
     public:
+        ~Entry();
         // instances interested in events
-        QList<Client *> m_clients;
+        QList<Client *> m_clients; // owned by Entry
         // nonexistent entries of this directory
         QList<Entry *> m_entries;
         QString path;