diff --git a/src/backends/drm/drm_gpu.cpp b/src/backends/drm/drm_gpu.cpp
index 47723ccacb..79a73fcc33 100644
--- a/src/backends/drm/drm_gpu.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/drm/drm_gpu.cpp
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ bool DrmGpu::updateOutputs()
             return connector->id() == currentConnector;
         });
         if (it == m_connectors.end()) {
-            auto conn = std::make_unique<DrmConnector>(this, currentConnector);
+            auto conn = std::make_shared<DrmConnector>(this, currentConnector);
             if (!conn->init()) {
                 continue;
             }
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ bool DrmGpu::updateOutputs()
             qCDebug(KWIN_DRM, "New %soutput on GPU %s: %s", conn->isNonDesktop() ? "non-desktop " : "", qPrintable(m_devNode), qPrintable(conn->modelName()));
             const auto pipeline = conn->pipeline();
             m_pipelines << pipeline;
-            auto output = new DrmOutput(pipeline);
+            auto output = new DrmOutput(*it);
             m_drmOutputs << output;
             addedOutputs << output;
             Q_EMIT outputAdded(output);
diff --git a/src/backends/drm/drm_gpu.h b/src/backends/drm/drm_gpu.h
index 7850764394..25cbf105a9 100644
--- a/src/backends/drm/drm_gpu.h
+++ b/src/backends/drm/drm_gpu.h
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ private:
 
     std::vector<std::unique_ptr<DrmPlane>> m_planes;
     std::vector<std::unique_ptr<DrmCrtc>> m_crtcs;
-    std::vector<std::unique_ptr<DrmConnector>> m_connectors;
+    std::vector<std::shared_ptr<DrmConnector>> m_connectors;
     QVector<DrmObject *> m_allObjects;
     QVector<DrmPipeline *> m_pipelines;
 
diff --git a/src/backends/drm/drm_output.cpp b/src/backends/drm/drm_output.cpp
index 7ceb84c282..26aa39e71f 100644
--- a/src/backends/drm/drm_output.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/drm/drm_output.cpp
@@ -38,14 +38,13 @@
 namespace KWin
 {
 
-DrmOutput::DrmOutput(DrmPipeline *pipeline)
-    : DrmAbstractOutput(pipeline->connector()->gpu())
-    , m_pipeline(pipeline)
-    , m_connector(pipeline->connector())
+DrmOutput::DrmOutput(const std::shared_ptr<DrmConnector> &conn)
+    : DrmAbstractOutput(conn->gpu())
+    , m_pipeline(conn->pipeline())
+    , m_connector(conn)
 {
     RenderLoopPrivate::get(m_renderLoop.get())->canDoTearing = gpu()->asyncPageflipSupported();
     m_pipeline->setOutput(this);
-    const auto conn = m_pipeline->connector();
     m_renderLoop->setRefreshRate(m_pipeline->mode()->refreshRate());
 
     Capabilities capabilities = Capability::Dpms;
@@ -387,7 +386,7 @@ bool DrmOutput::present()
 
 DrmConnector *DrmOutput::connector() const
 {
-    return m_connector;
+    return m_connector.get();
 }
 
 DrmPipeline *DrmOutput::pipeline() const
diff --git a/src/backends/drm/drm_output.h b/src/backends/drm/drm_output.h
index efadd4d508..90c34b5073 100644
--- a/src/backends/drm/drm_output.h
+++ b/src/backends/drm/drm_output.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class KWIN_EXPORT DrmOutput : public DrmAbstractOutput
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
-    DrmOutput(DrmPipeline *pipeline);
+    DrmOutput(const std::shared_ptr<DrmConnector> &connector);
     ~DrmOutput() override;
 
     DrmConnector *connector() const;
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ private:
     void renderCursorQPainter(const RenderTarget &renderTarget);
 
     DrmPipeline *m_pipeline;
-    DrmConnector *m_connector;
+    const std::shared_ptr<DrmConnector> m_connector;
 
     bool m_setCursorSuccessful = false;
     bool m_moveCursorSuccessful = false;