diff --git a/src/calls.rs b/src/calls.rs
index 2c0402fbc0..c3861e5efe 100644
--- a/src/calls.rs
+++ b/src/calls.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use crate::chat::ChatIdBlocked;
 use crate::chat::{Chat, ChatId, send_msg};
 use crate::constants::{Blocked, Chattype};
 use crate::contact::ContactId;
-use crate::context::Context;
+use crate::context::{Context, WeakContext};
 use crate::events::EventType;
 use crate::headerdef::HeaderDef;
 use crate::log::warn;
@@ -199,8 +199,9 @@ impl Context {
         call.id = send_msg(self, chat_id, &mut call).await?;
 
         let wait = RINGING_SECONDS;
+        let context = self.get_weak_context();
         task::spawn(Context::emit_end_call_if_unaccepted(
-            self.clone(),
+            context,
             wait.try_into()?,
             call.id,
         ));
@@ -291,11 +292,12 @@ impl Context {
     }
 
     async fn emit_end_call_if_unaccepted(
-        context: Context,
+        context: WeakContext,
         wait: u64,
         call_id: MsgId,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         sleep(Duration::from_secs(wait)).await;
+        let context = context.upgrade()?;
         let Some(mut call) = context.load_call_by_id(call_id).await? else {
             warn!(
                 context,
@@ -368,8 +370,9 @@ impl Context {
                         }
                     }
                     let wait = call.remaining_ring_seconds();
+                    let context = self.get_weak_context();
                     task::spawn(Context::emit_end_call_if_unaccepted(
-                        self.clone(),
+                        context,
                         wait.try_into()?,
                         call.msg.id,
                     ));
diff --git a/src/context.rs b/src/context.rs
index d149c7446b..c2e9ede7ea 100644
--- a/src/context.rs
+++ b/src/context.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use std::ffi::OsString;
 use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
-use std::sync::{Arc, OnceLock};
+use std::sync::{Arc, OnceLock, Weak};
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use anyhow::{Context as _, Result, bail, ensure};
@@ -201,6 +201,25 @@ impl Deref for Context {
     }
 }
 
+/// A weak reference to a [`Context`]
+///
+/// Can be used to obtain a [`Context`]. An existing weak reference does not prevent the corresponding [`Context`] from being dropped.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub(crate) struct WeakContext {
+    inner: Weak<InnerContext>,
+}
+
+impl WeakContext {
+    /// Returns the [`Context`] if it is still available.
+    pub(crate) fn upgrade(&self) -> Result<Context> {
+        let inner = self
+            .inner
+            .upgrade()
+            .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("Inner struct has been dropped"))?;
+        Ok(Context { inner })
+    }
+}
+
 /// Actual context, expensive to clone.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct InnerContext {
@@ -385,6 +404,13 @@ impl Context {
         Ok(context)
     }
 
+    /// Returns a weak reference to this [`Context`].
+    pub(crate) fn get_weak_context(&self) -> WeakContext {
+        WeakContext {
+            inner: Arc::downgrade(&self.inner),
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Opens the database with the given passphrase.
     /// NB: Db encryption is deprecated, so `passphrase` should be empty normally. See
     /// [`ContextBuilder::with_password()`] for reasoning.