diff --git a/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_Variant.h b/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_Variant.h
index 35025de243..a25b9e220e 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_Variant.h
+++ b/modules/juce_core/containers/juce_Variant.h
@@ -318,6 +318,10 @@ private:
 
     Array<var>* convertToArray();
     var (const VariantType&) noexcept;
+
+    // This is needed to prevent the wrong constructor/operator being called
+    var (const ReferenceCountedObject*) = delete;
+    var& operator= (const ReferenceCountedObject*) = delete;
 };
 
 /** Compares the values of two var objects, using the var::equals() comparison. */