diff --git a/adapters/src/rendering/femtovg/popup_window.rs b/adapters/src/rendering/femtovg/popup_window.rs
index 050076e..2e16a5b 100644
--- a/adapters/src/rendering/femtovg/popup_window.rs
+++ b/adapters/src/rendering/femtovg/popup_window.rs
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ use crate::wayland::surfaces::popup_manager::PopupManager;
 use core::ops::Deref;
 use log::info;
 use slint::{
-    PhysicalSize, Window, WindowSize,
+    ComponentHandle, PhysicalSize, Window, WindowSize,
     platform::{Renderer, WindowAdapter, WindowEvent, femtovg_renderer::FemtoVGRenderer},
 };
+use slint_interpreter::ComponentInstance;
 use std::cell::{Cell, RefCell};
 use std::rc::{Rc, Weak};
 
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ pub struct PopupWindow {
     scale_factor: Cell<f32>,
     popup_manager: RefCell<Weak<PopupManager>>,
     popup_key: Cell<Option<usize>>,
+    component_instance: RefCell<Option<ComponentInstance>>,
 }
 
 #[allow(dead_code)]
@@ -36,10 +38,15 @@ impl PopupWindow {
                 scale_factor: Cell::new(1.),
                 popup_manager: RefCell::new(Weak::new()),
                 popup_key: Cell::new(None),
+                component_instance: RefCell::new(None),
             }
         })
     }
 
+    pub fn set_component_instance(&self, instance: ComponentInstance) {
+        *self.component_instance.borrow_mut() = Some(instance);
+    }
+
     pub fn set_popup_manager(&self, popup_manager: Weak<PopupManager>, key: usize) {
         *self.popup_manager.borrow_mut() = popup_manager;
         self.popup_key.set(Some(key));
@@ -48,6 +55,13 @@ impl PopupWindow {
     pub fn close_popup(&self) {
         info!("Closing popup window - cleaning up resources");
 
+        if let Some(instance) = self.component_instance.borrow_mut().take() {
+            info!("Hiding ComponentInstance to release strong reference from show()");
+            if let Err(e) = instance.hide() {
+                info!("Failed to hide component instance: {e}");
+            }
+        }
+
         if let Err(e) = self.window.hide() {
             info!("Failed to hide popup window: {e}");
         }
diff --git a/adapters/src/wayland/surfaces/popup_builder.rs b/adapters/src/wayland/surfaces/popup_builder.rs
index 282e7c5..64a5a7f 100644
--- a/adapters/src/wayland/surfaces/popup_builder.rs
+++ b/adapters/src/wayland/surfaces/popup_builder.rs
@@ -134,6 +134,14 @@ impl<'a> PopupBuilder<'a> {
             width, height
         );
 
+        temp_instance
+            .hide()
+            .map_err(|e| LayerShikaError::WindowConfiguration {
+                message: format!("Failed to hide temporary instance: {}", e),
+            })?;
+
+        debug!("Hidden temporary instance to release strong reference");
+
         Ok(PopupDimensions::new(width, height))
     }
 
diff --git a/composition/src/system.rs b/composition/src/system.rs
index 9d52161..a3806f0 100644
--- a/composition/src/system.rs
+++ b/composition/src/system.rs
@@ -188,15 +188,23 @@ impl RuntimeState<'_> {
 
         popup_manager.set_pending_popup(req, width, height);
 
-        Self::create_popup_instance(&definition, &popup_manager)?;
+        let instance = Self::create_popup_instance(&definition, &popup_manager)?;
 
-        Ok(PopupHandle::new(
-            popup_manager.current_popup_key().ok_or_else(|| {
-                Error::Domain(DomainError::Configuration {
-                    message: "No popup key available after creation".to_string(),
-                })
-            })?,
-        ))
+        let popup_key = popup_manager.current_popup_key().ok_or_else(|| {
+            Error::Domain(DomainError::Configuration {
+                message: "No popup key available after creation".to_string(),
+            })
+        })?;
+
+        if let Some(popup_window) = popup_manager.get_popup_window(popup_key) {
+            popup_window.set_component_instance(instance);
+        } else {
+            return Err(Error::Domain(DomainError::Configuration {
+                message: "Popup window not found after creation".to_string(),
+            }));
+        }
+
+        Ok(PopupHandle::new(popup_key))
     }
 
     pub fn close_popup(&mut self, handle: PopupHandle) -> Result<()> {
@@ -259,10 +267,12 @@ impl RuntimeState<'_> {
             })
         })?;
 
-        let popup_manager_for_callback = Rc::clone(popup_manager);
+        let popup_manager_weak = Rc::downgrade(popup_manager);
         instance
             .set_callback("closed", move |_| {
-                popup_manager_for_callback.close_current_popup();
+                if let Some(popup_manager) = popup_manager_weak.upgrade() {
+                    popup_manager.close_current_popup();
+                }
                 Value::Void
             })
             .map_err(|e| {