diff --git a/pydm/widgets/related_display_button.py b/pydm/widgets/related_display_button.py
index 06505d095..c1748958e 100644
--- a/pydm/widgets/related_display_button.py
+++ b/pydm/widgets/related_display_button.py
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ def __init__(
         # but standard icons are already colored and can not be set.
         self._pydm_icon_color = QColor(90, 90, 90)
 
+        # Retain references to subdisplays to avoid garbage collection
+        self._subdisplays = []
+
     @only_if_channel_set
     def check_enable_state(self) -> None:
         """
@@ -602,6 +605,13 @@ def open_display(self, filename, macro_string="", target=None):
             # Not a pydm app: need to give our new display proper pydm styling
             # Usually done in PyDMApplication
             merge_widget_stylesheet(widget=display)
+            # Clean up references to closed subdisplays
+            for old_display in list(self._subdisplays):
+                # isVisible only goes False after clicking "close"
+                if not old_display.isVisible():
+                    self._subdisplays.remove(old_display)
+            # Retain a reference to avoid garbage collection
+            self._subdisplays.append(display)
             return display
 
     def context_menu(self):