diff --git a/ext/sqlite3/database.c b/ext/sqlite3/database.c
index d61bf0ac..9c730e30 100644
--- a/ext/sqlite3/database.c
+++ b/ext/sqlite3/database.c
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ busy_handler(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
     rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "01", &block);
 
     if (NIL_P(block) && rb_block_given_p()) { block = rb_block_proc(); }
-    ctx->busy_handler = block;
+    RB_OBJ_WRITE(self, &ctx->busy_handler, block);
 
     status = sqlite3_busy_handler(
                  ctx->db,
diff --git a/lib/sqlite3/database.rb b/lib/sqlite3/database.rb
index 39ace568..c4a490ab 100644
--- a/lib/sqlite3/database.rb
+++ b/lib/sqlite3/database.rb
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@ def initialize file, options = {}, zvfs = nil
 
       @tracefunc = nil
       @authorizer = nil
-      @busy_handler = nil
       @progress_handler = nil
       @collations = {}
       @functions = {}