diff --git a/src/gui/editors/displaytabs/backreflist.py b/src/gui/editors/displaytabs/backreflist.py
index ec87a812c..ae06bbf09 100644
--- a/src/gui/editors/displaytabs/backreflist.py
+++ b/src/gui/editors/displaytabs/backreflist.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class BackRefList(EmbeddedList):
         EmbeddedList.__init__(self, dbstate, uistate, track, 
                               _('_References'), refmodel)
         self._callback = callback
-        self.model.connect('row-inserted', self.update_label)
+        self.connectid = self.model.connect('row-inserted', self.update_label)
         self.track_ref_for_deletion("model")
 
     def update_label(self, *obj):
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ class BackRefList(EmbeddedList):
     def right_click(self, obj, event):
         return
 
-    def close(self):
-        self.model.close()
+    def _cleanup_local_connects(self):
+        self.model.disconnect(self.connectid)
 
     def is_empty(self):
         return self.model.count == 0
diff --git a/src/gui/editors/displaytabs/backrefmodel.py b/src/gui/editors/displaytabs/backrefmodel.py
index fbeda1c25..cd92c66ae 100644
--- a/src/gui/editors/displaytabs/backrefmodel.py
+++ b/src/gui/editors/displaytabs/backrefmodel.py
@@ -54,10 +54,18 @@ class BackRefModel(gtk.ListStore):
         self.count = 0
         self.idle = gobject.idle_add(self.load_model().next)
 
-    def close(self):
+    def destroy(self):
         gobject.source_remove(self.idle)
 
     def load_model(self):
+        """
+        Objects can have very large backreferences. To avoid blocking the 
+        interface up to the moment that the model is created, this method is 
+        called via gobject.idle_add.
+        WARNING: a consequence of above is that loading can still be happening
+            while the GUI using this model is no longer used. Disconnect any
+            methods before closing the GUI.
+        """
         self.count = 0
         for ref in self.sref_list:
             self.count += 1
diff --git a/src/gui/editors/editreference.py b/src/gui/editors/editreference.py
index 0aed5afb5..730da2ca4 100644
--- a/src/gui/editors/editreference.py
+++ b/src/gui/editors/editreference.py
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ class EditReference(ManagedWindow.ManagedWindow, DbGUIElement):
 
     def close(self,*obj):
         self._cleanup_db_connects()
+        self._cleanup_connects()
         ManagedWindow.ManagedWindow.close(self)
         self._cleanup_on_exit()
 
@@ -237,3 +238,20 @@ class EditReference(ManagedWindow.ManagedWindow, DbGUIElement):
         self._cleanup_callbacks()
         for tab in [tab for tab in self.__tabs if hasattr(tab, 'callman')]:
             tab._cleanup_callbacks()
+    
+    def _cleanup_connects(self):
+        """
+        Connects to interface elements to things outside the element should be
+        removed before destroying the interface
+        """
+        self._cleanup_local_connects()
+        for tab in [tab for tab in self.__tabs if hasattr(tab, '_cleanup_local_connects')]:
+            tab._cleanup_local_connects()
+
+    def _cleanup_local_connects(self):
+        """
+        Connects to interface elements to things outside the element should be
+        removed before destroying the interface. This methods cleans connects
+        of the main interface, not of the displaytabs.
+        """
+        pass