diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/node.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/node.lua
index 0a3b9f3f..7eb17637 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/node.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/node.lua
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ function M.node_destroy(node)
 
   if node.watcher then
     node.watcher:destroy()
+    node.watcher = nil
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/watch.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/watch.lua
index a24b0871..e80d8829 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/watch.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/watch.lua
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ function M.create_watcher(node)
   local function callback(watcher)
     log.line("watcher", "node event scheduled refresh %s", watcher.context)
     utils.debounce(watcher.context, M.debounce_delay, function()
+      if watcher.destroyed then
+        return
+      end
       if node.link_to then
         log.line("watcher", "node event executing refresh '%s' -> '%s'", node.link_to, node.absolute_path)
       else
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua
index 0070d877..7bf7f542 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/git/init.lua
@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ function M.load_project_status(cwd)
     local callback = function(w)
       log.line("watcher", "git event scheduled '%s'", w.project_root)
       utils.debounce("git:watcher:" .. w.project_root, M.config.filesystem_watchers.debounce_delay, function()
+        if w.destroyed then
+          return
+        end
         reload_tree_at(w.project_root)
       end)
     end
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/watcher.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/watcher.lua
index da8e6477..b5473ca6 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/watcher.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/watcher.lua
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ function Event:destroy(message)
   end
 
   Event._events[self._path] = nil
+
+  self.destroyed = true
 end
 
 function Watcher:new(path, files, callback, data)
@@ -139,6 +141,8 @@ function Watcher:destroy()
   self._event:remove(self._listener)
 
   utils.array_remove(Watcher._watchers, self)
+
+  self.destroyed = true
 end
 
 M.Watcher = Watcher