diff --git a/.github/actions/windows-build/action.yml b/.github/actions/windows-build/action.yml
index 21de507d..246665d9 100644
--- a/.github/actions/windows-build/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/windows-build/action.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ runs:
       arch: amd64
 
   - name: Install private Swift toolchain
-    uses: compnerd/gha-setup-swift@main
+    uses: compnerd/gha-setup-swift@81f383b35a86e6e966de139be25b451d4f7dd953
     with:
       github-repo: thebrowsercompany/swift-build
       github-token: ${{ inputs.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/swiftwinrt/Resources/Support/WinRTProtocols.swift b/swiftwinrt/Resources/Support/WinRTProtocols.swift
index ac6e0a51..63db419c 100644
--- a/swiftwinrt/Resources/Support/WinRTProtocols.swift
+++ b/swiftwinrt/Resources/Support/WinRTProtocols.swift
@@ -43,10 +43,11 @@ open class WinRTClass : CustomQueryInterface, Equatable {
     }
 
     deinit {
-      // ensure we release the identity pointer before releasing _inner. releasing the _inner
-      // cleans up the underlying COM object.
-      identity = nil
+      // ensure we release the _inner pointer before releasing identity. releasing the _inner
+      // cleans up the underlying COM object, which might be holding a reference to the identity pointer.
+
       _inner = nil
+      identity = nil
     }
 }