diff --git a/util/ub_event_pluggable.c b/util/ub_event_pluggable.c
index c3d87b089..e120a865e 100644
--- a/util/ub_event_pluggable.c
+++ b/util/ub_event_pluggable.c
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ ub_libevent_event_base(struct event_base* base)
 		return NULL;
 	my_base->super.magic = UB_EVENT_MAGIC;
 	my_base->super.vmt = &default_event_base_vmt;
+	my_base->base = base;
 	return &my_base->super;
 #endif
 }