diff --git a/core/java/android/view/RenderNodeAnimator.java b/core/java/android/view/RenderNodeAnimator.java
index a675821..be3b6ce 100644
--- a/core/java/android/view/RenderNodeAnimator.java
+++ b/core/java/android/view/RenderNodeAnimator.java
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 import android.graphics.Paint;
 import android.util.SparseIntArray;
 
+import com.android.internal.util.VirtualRefBasePtr;
+
 import java.lang.ref.WeakReference;
 
 /**
@@ -70,28 +72,32 @@
     public static final int DELTA_TYPE_DELTA = 1;
 
     private RenderNode mTarget;
-    private long mNativePtr;
+    private VirtualRefBasePtr mNativePtr;
 
     public int mapViewPropertyToRenderProperty(int viewProperty) {
         return sViewPropertyAnimatorMap.get(viewProperty);
     }
 
     public RenderNodeAnimator(int property, int deltaType, float deltaValue) {
-        mNativePtr = nCreateAnimator(new WeakReference<RenderNodeAnimator>(this),
-                property, deltaType, deltaValue);
+        init(nCreateAnimator(new WeakReference<RenderNodeAnimator>(this),
+                property, deltaType, deltaValue));
     }
 
     public RenderNodeAnimator(CanvasProperty<Float> property, int deltaType, float deltaValue) {
-        mNativePtr = nCreateCanvasPropertyFloatAnimator(
+        init(nCreateCanvasPropertyFloatAnimator(
                 new WeakReference<RenderNodeAnimator>(this),
-                property.getNativeContainer(), deltaType, deltaValue);
+                property.getNativeContainer(), deltaType, deltaValue));
     }
 
     public RenderNodeAnimator(CanvasProperty<Paint> property, int paintField,
             int deltaType, float deltaValue) {
-        mNativePtr = nCreateCanvasPropertyPaintAnimator(
+        init(nCreateCanvasPropertyPaintAnimator(
                 new WeakReference<RenderNodeAnimator>(this),
-                property.getNativeContainer(), paintField, deltaType, deltaValue);
+                property.getNativeContainer(), paintField, deltaType, deltaValue));
+    }
+
+    private void init(long ptr) {
+        mNativePtr = new VirtualRefBasePtr(ptr);
     }
 
     public void start(View target) {
@@ -115,11 +121,11 @@
     }
 
     public void setDuration(int duration) {
-        nSetDuration(mNativePtr, duration);
+        nSetDuration(mNativePtr.get(), duration);
     }
 
     long getNativeAnimator() {
-        return mNativePtr;
+        return mNativePtr.get();
     }
 
     private void onFinished() {
@@ -134,16 +140,6 @@
         }
     }
 
-    @Override
-    protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
-        try {
-            nUnref(mNativePtr);
-            mNativePtr = 0;
-        } finally {
-            super.finalize();
-        }
-    }
-
     private static native long nCreateAnimator(WeakReference<RenderNodeAnimator> weakThis,
             int property, int deltaValueType, float deltaValue);
     private static native long nCreateCanvasPropertyFloatAnimator(WeakReference<RenderNodeAnimator> weakThis,
@@ -151,5 +147,4 @@
     private static native long nCreateCanvasPropertyPaintAnimator(WeakReference<RenderNodeAnimator> weakThis,
             long canvasProperty, int paintField, int deltaValueType, float deltaValue);
     private static native void nSetDuration(long nativePtr, int duration);
-    private static native void nUnref(long nativePtr);
 }
diff --git a/core/java/com/android/internal/util/VirtualRefBasePtr.java b/core/java/com/android/internal/util/VirtualRefBasePtr.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0bd4d3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/java/com/android/internal/util/VirtualRefBasePtr.java
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.internal.util;
+
+/**
+ * Helper class that contains a strong reference to a VirtualRefBase native
+ * object. This will incStrong in the ctor, and decStrong in the finalizer
+ */
+public final class VirtualRefBasePtr {
+    private long mNativePtr;
+
+    public VirtualRefBasePtr(long ptr) {
+        mNativePtr = ptr;
+        nIncStrong(mNativePtr);
+    }
+
+    public long get() {
+        return mNativePtr;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
+        try {
+            nDecStrong(mNativePtr);
+            mNativePtr = 0;
+        } finally {
+            super.finalize();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static native void nIncStrong(long ptr);
+    private static native void nDecStrong(long ptr);
+}
diff --git a/core/jni/Android.mk b/core/jni/Android.mk
index 51e2871..26f77b5 100644
--- a/core/jni/Android.mk
+++ b/core/jni/Android.mk
@@ -155,7 +155,8 @@
 	android_content_res_Configuration.cpp \
 	android_animation_PropertyValuesHolder.cpp \
 	com_android_internal_net_NetworkStatsFactory.cpp \
-	com_android_internal_os_Zygote.cpp
+	com_android_internal_os_Zygote.cpp \
+	com_android_internal_util_VirtualRefBasePtr.cpp
 
 LOCAL_C_INCLUDES += \
 	$(JNI_H_INCLUDE) \
diff --git a/core/jni/AndroidRuntime.cpp b/core/jni/AndroidRuntime.cpp
index 66fbb8e..9941cd9 100644
--- a/core/jni/AndroidRuntime.cpp
+++ b/core/jni/AndroidRuntime.cpp
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@
 extern int register_com_android_internal_content_NativeLibraryHelper(JNIEnv *env);
 extern int register_com_android_internal_net_NetworkStatsFactory(JNIEnv *env);
 extern int register_com_android_internal_os_Zygote(JNIEnv *env);
+extern int register_com_android_internal_util_VirtualRefBasePtr(JNIEnv *env);
 
 static AndroidRuntime* gCurRuntime = NULL;
 
@@ -1262,6 +1263,7 @@
     REG_JNI(register_android_os_MemoryFile),
     REG_JNI(register_com_android_internal_os_ZygoteInit),
     REG_JNI(register_com_android_internal_os_Zygote),
+    REG_JNI(register_com_android_internal_util_VirtualRefBasePtr),
     REG_JNI(register_android_hardware_Camera),
     REG_JNI(register_android_hardware_camera2_CameraMetadata),
     REG_JNI(register_android_hardware_SensorManager),
diff --git a/core/jni/android/graphics/CanvasProperty.cpp b/core/jni/android/graphics/CanvasProperty.cpp
index 70e2db5..cfa9cd8 100644
--- a/core/jni/android/graphics/CanvasProperty.cpp
+++ b/core/jni/android/graphics/CanvasProperty.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 #include "GraphicsJNI.h"
 #include <android_runtime/AndroidRuntime.h>
 
-#include <utils/VirtualLightRefBase.h>
+#include <utils/RefBase.h>
 #include <CanvasProperty.h>
 
 namespace android {
@@ -27,22 +27,13 @@
 
 #ifdef USE_OPENGL_RENDERER
 
-static jlong incRef(VirtualLightRefBase* ptr) {
-    ptr->incStrong(0);
-    return reinterpret_cast<jlong>(ptr);
-}
-
 static jlong createFloat(JNIEnv* env, jobject clazz, jfloat initialValue) {
-    return incRef(new CanvasPropertyPrimitive(initialValue));
+    return reinterpret_cast<jlong>(new CanvasPropertyPrimitive(initialValue));
 }
 
 static jlong createPaint(JNIEnv* env, jobject clazz, jlong paintPtr) {
     const SkPaint* paint = reinterpret_cast<const SkPaint*>(paintPtr);
-    return incRef(new CanvasPropertyPaint(*paint));
-}
-
-static void unref(JNIEnv* env, jobject clazz, jlong containerPtr) {
-    reinterpret_cast<VirtualLightRefBase*>(containerPtr)->decStrong(0);
+    return reinterpret_cast<jlong>(new CanvasPropertyPaint(*paint));
 }
 
 #endif
@@ -57,7 +48,6 @@
 #ifdef USE_OPENGL_RENDERER
     { "nCreateFloat", "(F)J", (void*) createFloat },
     { "nCreatePaint", "(J)J", (void*) createPaint },
-    { "nUnref", "(J)V", (void*) unref },
 #endif
 };
 
diff --git a/core/jni/android_view_RenderNodeAnimator.cpp b/core/jni/android_view_RenderNodeAnimator.cpp
index 3be013b..4787d28 100644
--- a/core/jni/android_view_RenderNodeAnimator.cpp
+++ b/core/jni/android_view_RenderNodeAnimator.cpp
@@ -101,7 +101,6 @@
     RenderPropertyAnimator::DeltaValueType deltaType = toDeltaType(deltaTypeRaw);
 
     BaseAnimator* animator = new RenderPropertyAnimator(property, deltaType, deltaValue);
-    animator->incStrong(0);
     animator->setListener(new AnimationListenerBridge(env, weakThis));
     return reinterpret_cast<jlong>( animator );
 }
@@ -111,7 +110,6 @@
     RenderPropertyAnimator::DeltaValueType deltaType = toDeltaType(deltaTypeRaw);
     CanvasPropertyPrimitive* canvasProperty = reinterpret_cast<CanvasPropertyPrimitive*>(canvasPropertyPtr);
     BaseAnimator* animator = new CanvasPropertyPrimitiveAnimator(canvasProperty, deltaType, deltaValue);
-    animator->incStrong(0);
     animator->setListener(new AnimationListenerBridge(env, weakThis));
     return reinterpret_cast<jlong>( animator );
 }
@@ -124,7 +122,6 @@
     CanvasPropertyPaintAnimator::PaintField paintField = toPaintField(paintFieldRaw);
     BaseAnimator* animator = new CanvasPropertyPaintAnimator(
             canvasProperty, paintField, deltaType, deltaValue);
-    animator->incStrong(0);
     animator->setListener(new AnimationListenerBridge(env, weakThis));
     return reinterpret_cast<jlong>( animator );
 }
@@ -135,11 +132,6 @@
     animator->setDuration(duration);
 }
 
-static void unref(JNIEnv* env, jobject clazz, jlong objPtr) {
-    VirtualLightRefBase* obj = reinterpret_cast<VirtualLightRefBase*>(objPtr);
-    obj->decStrong(0);
-}
-
 #endif
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -154,7 +146,6 @@
     { "nCreateCanvasPropertyFloatAnimator", "(Ljava/lang/ref/WeakReference;JIF)J", (void*) createCanvasPropertyFloatAnimator },
     { "nCreateCanvasPropertyPaintAnimator", "(Ljava/lang/ref/WeakReference;JIIF)J", (void*) createCanvasPropertyPaintAnimator },
     { "nSetDuration", "(JI)V", (void*) setDuration },
-    { "nUnref", "(J)V", (void*) unref },
 #endif
 };
 
diff --git a/core/jni/com_android_internal_util_VirtualRefBasePtr.cpp b/core/jni/com_android_internal_util_VirtualRefBasePtr.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce6f207
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/jni/com_android_internal_util_VirtualRefBasePtr.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+#include "jni.h"
+#include <nativehelper/JNIHelp.h>
+#include <android_runtime/AndroidRuntime.h>
+
+namespace android {
+
+static void incStrong(JNIEnv* env, jobject clazz, jlong objPtr) {
+    VirtualLightRefBase* obj = reinterpret_cast<VirtualLightRefBase*>(objPtr);
+    obj->incStrong(0);
+}
+
+static void decStrong(JNIEnv* env, jobject clazz, jlong objPtr) {
+    VirtualLightRefBase* obj = reinterpret_cast<VirtualLightRefBase*>(objPtr);
+    obj->decStrong(0);
+}
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// JNI Glue
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const char* const kClassPathName = "com/android/internal/util/VirtualRefBasePtr";
+
+static JNINativeMethod gMethods[] = {
+    { "nIncStrong", "(J)V", (void*) incStrong },
+    { "nDecStrong", "(J)V", (void*) decStrong },
+};
+
+int register_com_android_internal_util_VirtualRefBasePtr(JNIEnv* env) {
+    return AndroidRuntime::registerNativeMethods(env, kClassPathName, gMethods, NELEM(gMethods));
+}
+
+
+} // namespace android
diff --git a/graphics/java/android/graphics/CanvasProperty.java b/graphics/java/android/graphics/CanvasProperty.java
index 99ea9b1..be86060 100644
--- a/graphics/java/android/graphics/CanvasProperty.java
+++ b/graphics/java/android/graphics/CanvasProperty.java
@@ -16,12 +16,15 @@
 
 package android.graphics;
 
+import com.android.internal.util.VirtualRefBasePtr;
+
 /**
  * TODO: Make public?
  * @hide
  */
 public final class CanvasProperty<T> {
-    private long mNativeContainer;
+
+    private VirtualRefBasePtr mProperty;
 
     public static CanvasProperty<Float> createFloat(float initialValue) {
         return new CanvasProperty<Float>(nCreateFloat(initialValue));
@@ -32,25 +35,14 @@
     }
 
     private CanvasProperty(long nativeContainer) {
-        mNativeContainer = nativeContainer;
+        mProperty = new VirtualRefBasePtr(nativeContainer);
     }
 
     /** @hide */
     public long getNativeContainer() {
-        return mNativeContainer;
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
-        try {
-            nUnref(mNativeContainer);
-            mNativeContainer = 0;
-        } finally {
-            super.finalize();
-        }
+        return mProperty.get();
     }
 
     private static native long nCreateFloat(float initialValue);
     private static native long nCreatePaint(long initialValuePaintPtr);
-    private static native void nUnref(long ptr);
 }
diff --git a/libs/hwui/Animator.h b/libs/hwui/Animator.h
index 0b074cc..86fc7c3 100644
--- a/libs/hwui/Animator.h
+++ b/libs/hwui/Animator.h
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@
 #define ANIMATOR_H
 
 #include <cutils/compiler.h>
+#include <utils/RefBase.h>
 #include <utils/StrongPointer.h>
 
 #include "CanvasProperty.h"
 #include "Interpolator.h"
 #include "TreeInfo.h"
 #include "utils/Macros.h"
-#include "utils/VirtualLightRefBase.h"
 
 namespace android {
 namespace uirenderer {
diff --git a/libs/hwui/CanvasProperty.h b/libs/hwui/CanvasProperty.h
index 2e1d176..6074394 100644
--- a/libs/hwui/CanvasProperty.h
+++ b/libs/hwui/CanvasProperty.h
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@
 #ifndef CANVASPROPERTY_H
 #define CANVASPROPERTY_H
 
+#include <utils/RefBase.h>
+
 #include "utils/Macros.h"
-#include "utils/VirtualLightRefBase.h"
 
 #include <SkPaint.h>
 
diff --git a/libs/hwui/DisplayList.h b/libs/hwui/DisplayList.h
index eaeb772..b2ead5b 100644
--- a/libs/hwui/DisplayList.h
+++ b/libs/hwui/DisplayList.h
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@
 #include "Matrix.h"
 #include "DeferredDisplayList.h"
 #include "RenderProperties.h"
-#include "utils/VirtualLightRefBase.h"
 
 class SkBitmap;
 class SkPaint;
diff --git a/libs/hwui/RenderNode.h b/libs/hwui/RenderNode.h
index 159903c..bc62ee1 100644
--- a/libs/hwui/RenderNode.h
+++ b/libs/hwui/RenderNode.h
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@
 #include "DisplayList.h"
 #include "RenderProperties.h"
 #include "TreeInfo.h"
-#include "utils/VirtualLightRefBase.h"
 
 class SkBitmap;
 class SkPaint;
diff --git a/libs/hwui/utils/VirtualLightRefBase.h b/libs/hwui/utils/VirtualLightRefBase.h
deleted file mode 100644
index b545aab..0000000
--- a/libs/hwui/utils/VirtualLightRefBase.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-#ifndef VIRTUALLIGHTREFBASE_H
-#define VIRTUALLIGHTREFBASE_H
-
-#include <utils/RefBase.h>
-
-namespace android {
-namespace uirenderer {
-
-// This is a wrapper around LightRefBase that simply enforces a virtual
-// destructor to eliminate the template requirement of LightRefBase
-class VirtualLightRefBase : public LightRefBase<VirtualLightRefBase> {
-public:
-    virtual ~VirtualLightRefBase() {}
-};
-
-} /* namespace uirenderer */
-} /* namespace android */
-
-#endif /* VIRTUALLIGHTREFBASE_H */