diff --git a/samples/main.cpp b/samples/main.cpp
index 3a7f42e..bfb60bc 100644
--- a/samples/main.cpp
+++ b/samples/main.cpp
@@ -95,13 +95,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     Widgets::button(5, RootPanelId, "Test 3", Rect(100, 150, 100, 40), nullptr);
     Widgets::imageButton(6, RootPanelId, "button_test.png", Rect(100, 200, 100, 40), nullptr);
 
-
     auto &ctx = TinyUi::getContext();
-    CallbackI quitCallback(quit, (void*) &ctx);
-    Widgets::button(7, RootPanelId, "Quit", Rect(100, 250, 100, 40), &quitCallback);
 
-    CallbackI updateProgressBarCallback(updateProgressbar, nullptr, Events::UpdateEvent);
-    Widgets::progressBar(8, RootPanelId, Rect(100, 300, 100, 40), 50, &updateProgressBarCallback);
+    // Allocate callbacks dynamically to ensure they persist during event handling
+    CallbackI *dynamicQuitCallback = new CallbackI(quit, (void*) &ctx);
+    CallbackI *dynamicUpdateProgressBarCallback = new CallbackI(updateProgressbar, nullptr, Events::UpdateEvent);
+
+    Widgets::button(7, RootPanelId, "Quit", Rect(100, 250, 100, 40), dynamicQuitCallback);
+    Widgets::progressBar(8, RootPanelId, Rect(100, 300, 100, 40), 50, dynamicUpdateProgressBarCallback);
 
     Widgets::inputText(9, RootPanelId, Rect(100, 350, 100, 40), Alignment::Left);
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     //Widgets::treeItem(12, 11, "Item 1.1");
     Widgets::treeItem(13, 10, "Item 2");
     Widgets::treeItem(14, 13, "Item 2.1");
-    
+
     while (TinyUi::run()) {
         TinyUi::render();
     }
diff --git a/src/tinyui.h b/src/tinyui.h
index b0fed8d..103119b 100644
--- a/src/tinyui.h
+++ b/src/tinyui.h
@@ -314,6 +314,8 @@ struct CallbackI {
     funcCallback mfuncCallback[Events::NumEvents];
     /// The data instance.
     void *mInstance{nullptr};
+    /// The reference count for the callback interface, used for memory management.
+    uint32_t mNumRefs{ 0 };
 
     /// @brief The default class constructor.
     CallbackI() : mfuncCallback{ nullptr } {
@@ -339,6 +341,21 @@ struct CallbackI {
             mfuncCallback[i] = nullptr;
         }
     }
+
+    /// @brief Increment the reference count.
+    void incRef() {
+        ++mNumRefs;
+    }
+
+    /// @brief Decrement the reference count.
+    void decRef() {
+        if (mNumRefs > 0) {
+            --mNumRefs;
+            if (mNumRefs == 0) {
+                delete this;
+            }
+        }
+    }
 };
 
 /// @brief The event callback array.
diff --git a/src/widgets.cpp b/src/widgets.cpp
index 0c131df..7dce1b0 100644
--- a/src/widgets.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets.cpp
@@ -271,6 +271,9 @@ ret_code Widgets::button(Id id, Id parentId, const char *text, const Rect &rect,
     }
 
     child->mCallback = callback;
+    if (callback != nullptr) {
+        callback->incRef();
+    }
     if (text != nullptr) {
         child->mText.assign(text);
     }
@@ -294,6 +297,10 @@ ret_code Widgets::imageButton(Id id, Id parentId, const char *image, const Rect
     }
     
     child->mCallback = callback;
+    if (callback != nullptr) {
+        callback->incRef();
+    }
+
     if (image != nullptr) {
         child->mImage = loadIntoImageCache(ctx, image);
     }
@@ -395,6 +402,9 @@ ret_code Widgets::treeView(Id id, Id parentId, const char *title, const Rect &re
 
     CallbackI *callback = new CallbackI(onTreeViewItemClicked, nullptr, Events::MouseButtonDownEvent);
     widget->mCallback = callback;
+    if (callback != nullptr) {
+        callback->incRef();
+    }
 
     return ResultOk;
 }
diff --git a/src/widgets.h b/src/widgets.h
index 0fbae5c..4e897a1 100644
--- a/src/widgets.h
+++ b/src/widgets.h
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ struct Widget {
         if (mContent != nullptr) {
             delete [] mContent;
         } 
+        
+        if (mCallback != nullptr) {
+            mCallback->decRef();
+        }
     }
 
     /// @brief Check if the widget has a specific style.