diff --git a/src/ipc/capnp/protocol.cpp b/src/ipc/capnp/protocol.cpp
index 3326f70931..7bc653d25c 100644
--- a/src/ipc/capnp/protocol.cpp
+++ b/src/ipc/capnp/protocol.cpp
@@ -41,10 +41,7 @@ class CapnpProtocol : public Protocol
 public:
     ~CapnpProtocol() noexcept(true)
     {
-        if (m_loop) {
-            std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(m_loop->m_mutex);
-            m_loop->removeClient(lock);
-        }
+        m_loop_ref.reset();
         if (m_loop_thread.joinable()) m_loop_thread.join();
         assert(!m_loop);
     };
@@ -83,10 +80,7 @@ public:
         m_loop_thread = std::thread([&] {
             util::ThreadRename("capnp-loop");
             m_loop.emplace(exe_name, &IpcLogFn, &m_context);
-            {
-                std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(m_loop->m_mutex);
-                m_loop->addClient(lock);
-            }
+            m_loop_ref.emplace(*m_loop);
             promise.set_value();
             m_loop->loop();
             m_loop.reset();
@@ -95,7 +89,12 @@ public:
     }
     Context m_context;
     std::thread m_loop_thread;
+    //! EventLoop object which manages I/O events for all connections.
     std::optional<mp::EventLoop> m_loop;
+    //! Reference to the same EventLoop. Increments the loop’s refcount on
+    //! creation, decrements on destruction. The loop thread exits when the
+    //! refcount reaches 0. Other IPC objects also hold their own EventLoopRef.
+    std::optional<mp::EventLoopRef> m_loop_ref;
 };
 } // namespace
 
diff --git a/src/test/ipc_test.cpp b/src/test/ipc_test.cpp
index b4d7ad354c..eeaf348812 100644
--- a/src/test/ipc_test.cpp
+++ b/src/test/ipc_test.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ void IpcPipeTest()
 {
     // Setup: create FooImplementation object and listen for FooInterface requests
     std::promise<std::unique_ptr<mp::ProxyClient<gen::FooInterface>>> foo_promise;
-    std::function<void()> disconnect_client;
     std::thread thread([&]() {
         mp::EventLoop loop("IpcPipeTest", [](bool raise, const std::string& log) { LogPrintf("LOG%i: %s\n", raise, log); });
         auto pipe = loop.m_io_context.provider->newTwoWayPipe();
@@ -63,9 +62,9 @@ void IpcPipeTest()
         auto connection_client = std::make_unique<mp::Connection>(loop, kj::mv(pipe.ends[0]));
         auto foo_client = std::make_unique<mp::ProxyClient<gen::FooInterface>>(
             connection_client->m_rpc_system->bootstrap(mp::ServerVatId().vat_id).castAs<gen::FooInterface>(),
-            connection_client.get(), /* destroy_connection= */ false);
+            connection_client.get(), /* destroy_connection= */ true);
+        connection_client.release();
         foo_promise.set_value(std::move(foo_client));
-        disconnect_client = [&] { loop.sync([&] { connection_client.reset(); }); };
 
         auto connection_server = std::make_unique<mp::Connection>(loop, kj::mv(pipe.ends[1]), [&](mp::Connection& connection) {
             auto foo_server = kj::heap<mp::ProxyServer<gen::FooInterface>>(std::make_shared<FooImplementation>(), connection);
@@ -106,8 +105,8 @@ void IpcPipeTest()
     auto script2{foo->passScript(script1)};
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(HexStr(script1), HexStr(script2));
 
-    // Test cleanup: disconnect pipe and join thread
-    disconnect_client();
+    // Test cleanup: disconnect and join thread
+    foo.reset();
     thread.join();
 }