diff --git a/src/core/Database.cpp b/src/core/Database.cpp
index ccd0ffb21..11ca6ea35 100644
--- a/src/core/Database.cpp
+++ b/src/core/Database.cpp
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ void Database::releaseData()
 
     setEmitModified(false);
     m_modified = false;
-    m_modifiedTimer.stop();
+    stopModifiedTimer();
 
     s_uuidMap.remove(m_uuid);
     m_uuid = QUuid();
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ void Database::emptyRecycleBin()
 void Database::setEmitModified(bool value)
 {
     if (m_emitModified && !value) {
-        m_modifiedTimer.stop();
+        stopModifiedTimer();
     }
 
     m_emitModified = value;
@@ -863,7 +863,7 @@ void Database::markAsModified()
     m_modified = true;
     if (m_emitModified && !m_modifiedTimer.isActive()) {
         // Small time delay prevents numerous consecutive saves due to repeated signals
-        m_modifiedTimer.start(150);
+        startModifiedTimer();
     }
 }
 
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ void Database::markAsClean()
 {
     bool emitSignal = m_modified;
     m_modified = false;
-    m_modifiedTimer.stop();
+    stopModifiedTimer();
     m_hasNonDataChange = false;
     if (emitSignal) {
         emit databaseSaved();
@@ -927,3 +927,13 @@ bool Database::changeKdf(const QSharedPointer<Kdf>& kdf)
 
     return true;
 }
+
+void Database::startModifiedTimer()
+{
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(&m_modifiedTimer, "start", Q_ARG(int, 150));
+}
+
+void Database::stopModifiedTimer()
+{
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(&m_modifiedTimer, "stop");
+}
diff --git a/src/core/Database.h b/src/core/Database.h
index 88a096473..fa5c145cb 100644
--- a/src/core/Database.h
+++ b/src/core/Database.h
@@ -202,6 +202,8 @@ private:
     bool backupDatabase(const QString& filePath);
     bool restoreDatabase(const QString& filePath);
     bool performSave(const QString& filePath, QString* error, bool atomic, bool backup);
+    void startModifiedTimer();
+    void stopModifiedTimer();
 
     QPointer<Metadata> const m_metadata;
     DatabaseData m_data;