diff --git a/java/org/rocksdb/BackupableDB.java b/java/org/rocksdb/BackupableDB.java
index 91607d4df..b85f792fc 100644
--- a/java/org/rocksdb/BackupableDB.java
+++ b/java/org/rocksdb/BackupableDB.java
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ public class BackupableDB extends RocksDB {
     BackupableDB bdb = new BackupableDB(RocksDB.open(opt, db_path));
     bdb.open(bdb.db_.nativeHandle_, bopt.nativeHandle_);
 
+    // Prevent the RocksDB object from attempting to delete
+    // the underly C++ DB object.
+    bdb.db_.disOwnNativeObject();
+
     return bdb;
   }
 
diff --git a/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java b/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java
index 23dad1dc4..bc0390d9f 100644
--- a/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java
+++ b/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java
@@ -337,6 +337,18 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
     opt.filter_ = null;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Revoke ownership of the native object.
+   *
+   * This will prevent the object from attempting to delete the underlying
+   * native object in its finalizer. This must be used when another object
+   * (e.g. BackupableDB) takes over ownership of the native object or both
+   * will attempt to delete the underlying object when garbage collected.
+   */
+  protected void disOwnNativeObject() {
+    nativeHandle_ = 0;
+  }
+
   // native methods
   protected native void open(
       long optionsHandle, long cacheSize, String path) throws RocksDBException;