diff --git a/core/src/attr.rs b/core/src/attr.rs
index df64a0f..c9112ac 100644
--- a/core/src/attr.rs
+++ b/core/src/attr.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, WL: WidgetLike<State, Tag>, Tag>
     ) -> impl WidgetIdFn<State, WL::Widget> {
         |state| {
             let id = self.add(state);
-            A::run(state, id.weak(), input);
+            A::run(state, id, input);
             id
         }
     }
diff --git a/core/src/ui/mod.rs b/core/src/ui/mod.rs
index 1d119df..bb5ecca 100644
--- a/core/src/ui/mod.rs
+++ b/core/src/ui/mod.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use crate::{
 use image::DynamicImage;
 use std::{
     ops::{Index, IndexMut},
-    sync::mpsc::{Receiver, Sender, channel},
+    sync::mpsc::{Receiver, channel},
 };
 
 mod active;
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ pub struct Ui {
     pub root: Option<WidgetHandle>,
     old_root: Option<WidgetId>,
     recv: Receiver<WidgetId>,
-    send: Sender<WidgetId>,
     resized: bool,
 }
 
@@ -73,24 +72,20 @@ impl Ui {
         &self.widgets.data(id.id()).unwrap().label
     }
 
-    pub fn add_widget<W: Widget>(&mut self, w: W) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
-        WidgetHandle::new(self.widgets.add(w), self.send.clone())
-    }
-
     pub fn new() -> Self {
         Self::default()
     }
 
     pub fn get<I: IdLike>(&self, id: &I) -> Option<&I::Widget>
     where
-        I::Widget: Sized,
+        I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
     {
         self.widgets.get(id)
     }
 
     pub fn get_mut<I: IdLike>(&mut self, id: &I) -> Option<&mut I::Widget>
     where
-        I::Widget: Sized,
+        I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
     {
         self.widgets.get_mut(id)
     }
@@ -105,6 +100,20 @@ impl Ui {
     }
 
     pub fn update(&mut self, events: &mut dyn EventsLike) {
+        if !self.widgets.waiting.is_empty() {
+            let len = self.widgets.waiting.len();
+            let all: Vec<_> = self
+                .widgets
+                .waiting
+                .iter()
+                .map(|&w| format!("'{}' ({w:?})", self.label(w)))
+                .collect();
+            panic!(
+                "{len} widget(s) were never upgraded\n\
+                this is likely a memory leak; consider upgrading to strong if you plan on using it later\n\
+                weak widgets: {all:#?}"
+            );
+        }
         if self.root_changed() {
             DrawState::new(self, events).redraw_all();
             self.old_root = self.root.as_ref().map(|r| r.id());
@@ -169,7 +178,7 @@ impl Ui {
 
 impl<I: IdLike> Index<I> for Ui
 where
-    I::Widget: Sized,
+    I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
 {
     type Output = I::Widget;
 
@@ -180,7 +189,7 @@ where
 
 impl<I: IdLike> IndexMut<I> for Ui
 where
-    I::Widget: Sized,
+    I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
 {
     fn index_mut(&mut self, id: I) -> &mut Self::Output {
         self.get_mut(&id).unwrap()
@@ -191,7 +200,7 @@ impl Default for Ui {
     fn default() -> Self {
         let (send, recv) = channel();
         Self {
-            widgets: Default::default(),
+            widgets: Widgets::new(send),
             active: Default::default(),
             layers: Default::default(),
             masks: Default::default(),
@@ -201,7 +210,6 @@ impl Default for Ui {
             output_size: Vec2::ZERO,
             root: None,
             old_root: None,
-            send,
             recv,
             resized: false,
         }
diff --git a/core/src/widget/handle.rs b/core/src/widget/handle.rs
index e23fded..e82c83c 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/handle.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/handle.rs
@@ -68,9 +68,21 @@ impl<W: ?Sized> WidgetHandle<W> {
 }
 
 impl<W: ?Sized> WidgetRef<W> {
+    pub(crate) fn new(id: WidgetId) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            id,
+            ty: unsafe { MaybeUninit::zeroed().assume_init() },
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn id(&self) -> WidgetId {
         self.id
     }
+
+    #[track_caller]
+    pub fn upgrade(self, ui: &mut impl HasUi) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+        ui.ui_mut().widgets.upgrade(self)
+    }
 }
 
 impl<W: ?Sized> Drop for WidgetHandle<W> {
@@ -81,29 +93,29 @@ impl<W: ?Sized> Drop for WidgetHandle<W> {
     }
 }
 
-pub trait WidgetIdFn<State, W: ?Sized = dyn Widget>: FnOnce(&mut State) -> WidgetHandle<W> {}
-impl<State, W: ?Sized, F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> WidgetHandle<W>> WidgetIdFn<State, W> for F {}
+pub trait WidgetIdFn<State, W: ?Sized = dyn Widget>: FnOnce(&mut State) -> WidgetRef<W> {}
+impl<State, W: ?Sized, F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> WidgetRef<W>> WidgetIdFn<State, W> for F {}
 
 pub trait IdLike {
-    type Widget: Widget + ?Sized + 'static;
+    type Widget: ?Sized;
     fn id(&self) -> WidgetId;
 }
 
-impl<W: Widget + ?Sized> IdLike for &WidgetHandle<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> IdLike for &WidgetHandle<W> {
     type Widget = W;
     fn id(&self) -> WidgetId {
         self.id
     }
 }
 
-impl<W: Widget + ?Sized> IdLike for WidgetHandle<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> IdLike for WidgetHandle<W> {
     type Widget = W;
     fn id(&self) -> WidgetId {
         self.id
     }
 }
 
-impl<W: Widget + ?Sized> IdLike for WidgetRef<W> {
+impl<W: ?Sized> IdLike for WidgetRef<W> {
     type Widget = W;
     fn id(&self) -> WidgetId {
         self.id
diff --git a/core/src/widget/like.rs b/core/src/widget/like.rs
index dac20f6..64e3061 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/like.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/like.rs
@@ -16,11 +16,15 @@ impl StateLike<Ui> for Ui {
 pub trait WidgetLike<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, Tag>: Sized {
     type Widget: Widget + ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget>;
 
-    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<Self::Widget>;
+    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetRef<Self::Widget>;
+
+    fn add_strong(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<Self::Widget> {
+        self.add(state).upgrade(state.as_state().ui_mut())
+    }
 
     fn with_id<W2>(
         self,
-        f: impl FnOnce(&mut State, WidgetHandle<Self::Widget>) -> WidgetHandle<W2>,
+        f: impl FnOnce(&mut State, WidgetRef<Self::Widget>) -> WidgetRef<W2>,
     ) -> impl WidgetIdFn<State, W2> {
         move |state| {
             let id = self.add(state);
@@ -29,15 +33,18 @@ pub trait WidgetLike<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, Tag>: Sized {
     }
 
     fn set_root(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) {
-        state.as_state().get_mut().root = Some(self.add(state));
+        let id = self.add(state);
+        let ui = state.as_state().ui_mut();
+        ui.root = Some(id.upgrade(ui));
     }
 
     fn handles(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandles<Self::Widget> {
-        self.add(state).handles()
+        self.add(state).upgrade(state.as_state().ui_mut()).handles()
     }
 }
 
 pub trait WidgetArrLike<State, const LEN: usize, Tag> {
+    #[track_caller]
     fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetArr<LEN>;
 }
 
@@ -58,7 +65,7 @@ macro_rules! impl_widget_arr {
                 #[allow(non_snake_case)]
                 let ($($W,)*) = self;
                 WidgetArr::new(
-                    [$($W.add(state),)*],
+                    [$($W.add(state).upgrade(state.as_state().ui_mut()),)*],
                 )
             }
         }
diff --git a/core/src/widget/tag.rs b/core/src/widget/tag.rs
index 899dea0..9774949 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/tag.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/tag.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ use std::marker::Unsize;
 pub struct WidgetTag;
 impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, W: Widget> WidgetLike<State, WidgetTag> for W {
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
-        state.as_state().get_mut().add_widget(self)
+    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetRef<W> {
+        state.as_state().get_mut().widgets.add_weak(self)
     }
 }
 
@@ -15,17 +15,30 @@ impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, W: Widget, F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> W>
     WidgetLike<State, FnTag> for F
 {
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetRef<W> {
         self(state.as_state()).add(state)
     }
 }
 
+pub trait WidgetFnTrait<State> {
+    type Widget: Widget;
+    fn run(self, state: &mut State) -> Self::Widget;
+}
+pub struct FnTraitTag;
+impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, T: WidgetFnTrait<State>> WidgetLike<State, FnTraitTag> for T {
+    type Widget = T::Widget;
+    #[track_caller]
+    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetRef<T::Widget> {
+        self.run(state.as_state()).add(state)
+    }
+}
+
 pub struct IdTag;
 impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, W: ?Sized + Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget>>
-    WidgetLike<State, IdTag> for WidgetHandle<W>
+    WidgetLike<State, IdTag> for WidgetRef<W>
 {
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, _: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+    fn add(self, _: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetRef<W> {
         self
     }
 }
@@ -34,11 +47,11 @@ pub struct IdFnTag;
 impl<
     State: HasUi + StateLike<State>,
     W: ?Sized + Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget>,
-    F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> WidgetHandle<W>,
+    F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> WidgetRef<W>,
 > WidgetLike<State, IdFnTag> for F
 {
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetRef<W> {
         self(state.as_state())
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/widget/widgets.rs b/core/src/widget/widgets.rs
index c98b511..751ddbf 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/widgets.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/widgets.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,27 @@
+use std::sync::mpsc::Sender;
+
 use crate::{
-    IdLike, Widget, WidgetData, WidgetId,
+    IdLike, Widget, WidgetData, WidgetHandle, WidgetId, WidgetRef,
     util::{DynBorrower, HashSet, SlotVec, forget_mut, to_mut},
 };
 
-#[derive(Default)]
 pub struct Widgets {
     pub needs_redraw: HashSet<WidgetId>,
     vec: SlotVec<WidgetData>,
+    send: Sender<WidgetId>,
+    pub(crate) waiting: HashSet<WidgetId>,
 }
 
 impl Widgets {
+    pub fn new(send: Sender<WidgetId>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            needs_redraw: Default::default(),
+            vec: Default::default(),
+            waiting: Default::default(),
+            send,
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn has_updates(&self) -> bool {
         !self.needs_redraw.is_empty()
     }
@@ -37,20 +49,37 @@ impl Widgets {
 
     pub fn get<I: IdLike>(&self, id: &I) -> Option<&I::Widget>
     where
-        I::Widget: Sized,
+        I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
     {
         self.get_dyn(id.id())?.as_any().downcast_ref()
     }
 
     pub fn get_mut<I: IdLike>(&mut self, id: &I) -> Option<&mut I::Widget>
     where
-        I::Widget: Sized,
+        I::Widget: Sized + Widget,
     {
         self.get_dyn_mut(id.id())?.as_any_mut().downcast_mut()
     }
 
-    pub fn add<W: Widget>(&mut self, widget: W) -> WidgetId {
-        self.vec.add(WidgetData::new(widget))
+    pub fn add_strong<W: Widget>(&mut self, widget: W) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+        let id = self.vec.add(WidgetData::new(widget));
+        WidgetHandle::new(id, self.send.clone())
+    }
+
+    pub fn add_weak<W: Widget>(&mut self, widget: W) -> WidgetRef<W> {
+        let id = self.vec.add(WidgetData::new(widget));
+        self.waiting.insert(id);
+        WidgetRef::new(id)
+    }
+
+    #[track_caller]
+    pub fn upgrade<W: ?Sized>(&mut self, rf: WidgetRef<W>) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+        if !self.waiting.remove(&rf.id()) {
+            let label = self.label(rf);
+            let id = rf.id();
+            panic!("widget '{label}' ({id:?}) was already added\ncannot add a widget twice; consider creating two")
+        }
+        WidgetHandle::new(rf.id(), self.send.clone())
     }
 
     pub fn data(&self, id: impl IdLike) -> Option<&WidgetData> {
diff --git a/src/bin/test/main.rs b/src/bin/test/main.rs
index e252901..911e88d 100644
--- a/src/bin/test/main.rs
+++ b/src/bin/test/main.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
             events: EventManager::default(),
         };
 
-        let info;
         let rrect = rect(Color::WHITE).radius(20);
         let pad_test = (
             rrect.color(Color::BLUE),
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
                 .width(rest(3)),
         )
             .span(Dir::RIGHT)
-            .handles(&mut rsc);
+            .add(&mut rsc);
 
         let span_test = (
             rrect.color(Color::GREEN).width(100),
@@ -57,15 +56,15 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
             .span(Dir::LEFT)
             .add(&mut rsc);
 
-        let span_add = Span::empty(Dir::RIGHT).handles(&mut rsc);
+        let span_add = Span::empty(Dir::RIGHT).add(&mut rsc);
 
         let add_button = rect(Color::LIME)
             .radius(30)
             .on(CursorSense::click(), move |ctx| {
                 let child = image(include_bytes!("assets/sungals.png"))
                     .center()
-                    .add(ctx);
-                (span_add.r)(ctx).children.push(child);
+                    .add_strong(ctx);
+                span_add(ctx).children.push(child);
             })
             .sized((150, 150))
             .align(Align::BOT_RIGHT);
@@ -73,12 +72,12 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
         let del_button = rect(Color::RED)
             .radius(30)
             .on(CursorSense::click(), move |ctx| {
-                (span_add.r)(ctx).children.pop();
+                span_add(ctx).children.pop();
             })
             .sized((150, 150))
             .align(Align::BOT_LEFT);
 
-        let span_add_test = (span_add.h, add_button, del_button).stack().add(&mut rsc);
+        let span_add_test = (span_add, add_button, del_button).stack().add(&mut rsc);
 
         let btext = |content| wtext(content).size(30);
 
@@ -103,8 +102,8 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
             .span(Dir::DOWN)
             .add(&mut rsc);
 
-        let texts = Span::empty(Dir::DOWN).gap(10).handles(&mut rsc);
-        let msg_area = texts.h.scrollable().masked().background(rect(Color::SKY));
+        let texts = Span::empty(Dir::DOWN).gap(10).add(&mut rsc);
+        let msg_area = texts.scrollable().masked().background(rect(Color::SKY));
         let add_text = wtext("add")
             .editable(EditMode::MultiLine)
             .text_align(Align::LEFT)
@@ -119,19 +118,21 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
                     .text_align(Align::LEFT)
                     .wrap(true)
                     .attr::<Selectable>(());
-                let msg_box = text.background(rect(Color::WHITE.darker(0.5))).add(ctx);
-                (texts.r)(ctx).children.push(msg_box);
+                let msg_box = text
+                    .background(rect(Color::WHITE.darker(0.5)))
+                    .add_strong(ctx);
+                texts(ctx).children.push(msg_box);
             })
-            .handles(&mut rsc);
+            .add(&mut rsc);
         let text_edit_scroll = (
             msg_area.height(rest(1)),
             (
                 Rect::new(Color::WHITE.darker(0.9)),
                 (
-                    add_text.h.width(rest(1)),
+                    add_text.width(rest(1)),
                     Rect::new(Color::GREEN)
                         .on(CursorSense::click(), move |ctx| {
-                            ctx.state.run_event::<Submit>(add_text.r, &mut ());
+                            ctx.state.run_event::<Submit>(add_text, &mut ());
                         })
                         .sized((40, 40)),
                 )
@@ -146,15 +147,16 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
             .span(Dir::DOWN)
             .add(&mut rsc);
 
-        let main = WidgetPtr::new().handles(&mut rsc);
+        let main = WidgetPtr::new().add(&mut rsc);
 
         let vals = Rc::new(RefCell::new((0, Vec::new())));
-        let mut switch_button = |color, to: WidgetHandle, label| {
+        let mut switch_button = |color, to: WidgetRef, label| {
+            let to = to.upgrade(&mut rsc);
             let vec = &mut vals.borrow_mut().1;
             let i = vec.len();
             if vec.is_empty() {
                 vec.push(None);
-                rsc.ui[main.r].set(to);
+                rsc.ui[main].set(to);
             } else {
                 vec.push(Some(to));
             }
@@ -163,7 +165,7 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
                 .on(CursorSense::click(), move |ctx| {
                     let (prev, vec) = &mut *vals.borrow_mut();
                     if let Some(h) = vec[i].take() {
-                        vec[*prev] = (main.r)(ctx).replace(h);
+                        vec[*prev] = main(ctx).replace(h);
                         *prev = i;
                     }
                     ctx.widget().color = color.darker(0.3);
@@ -181,7 +183,7 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
         };
 
         let tabs = (
-            switch_button(Color::RED, pad_test.h, "pad"),
+            switch_button(Color::RED, pad_test, "pad"),
             switch_button(Color::GREEN, span_test, "span"),
             switch_button(Color::BLUE, span_add_test, "image span"),
             switch_button(Color::MAGENTA, text_test, "text layout"),
@@ -193,10 +195,10 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
         )
             .span(Dir::RIGHT);
 
-        info = wtext("").handles(&mut rsc);
-        let info_sect = info.h.pad(10).align(Align::RIGHT);
+        let info = wtext("").add(&mut rsc);
+        let info_sect = info.pad(10).align(Align::RIGHT);
 
-        ((tabs.height(40), main.h.pad(10)).span(Dir::DOWN), info_sect)
+        ((tabs.height(40), main.pad(10)).span(Dir::DOWN), info_sect)
             .stack()
             .set_root(&mut rsc);
 
@@ -204,7 +206,7 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
             ui: rsc.ui,
             ui_state: rsc.ui_state,
             events: rsc.events,
-            info: info.r,
+            info,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/event.rs b/src/event.rs
index 3b17a2d..6f92a7d 100644
--- a/src/event.rs
+++ b/src/event.rs
@@ -10,15 +10,15 @@ pub mod eventable {
             f: impl for<'a> WidgetEventFn<State::State, <E::Event as Event>::Data<'a>, WL::Widget>,
         ) -> impl WidgetIdFn<State, WL::Widget> {
             move |state| {
-                let id = self.handles(state);
-                state.register_event(id.r, event.into_event(), move |ctx| {
+                let id = self.add(state);
+                state.register_event(id, event.into_event(), move |ctx| {
                     f(&mut EventIdCtx {
-                        widget: id.r,
+                        widget: id,
                         state: ctx.state,
                         data: ctx.data,
                     });
                 });
-                id.h
+                id
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/widget/position/span.rs b/src/widget/position/span.rs
index eef6c6f..7607ce0 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/span.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/span.rs
@@ -151,14 +151,15 @@ pub struct SpanBuilder<State, const LEN: usize, Wa: WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, Ta
     _pd: PhantomData<(State, Tag)>,
 }
 
-impl<State: StateLike<State>, const LEN: usize, Wa: WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, Tag>, Tag> FnOnce<(&mut State,)>
-    for SpanBuilder<State, LEN, Wa, Tag>
+impl<State: StateLike<State>, const LEN: usize, Wa: WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, Tag>, Tag>
+    WidgetFnTrait<State> for SpanBuilder<State, LEN, Wa, Tag>
 {
-    type Output = Span;
+    type Widget = Span;
 
-    extern "rust-call" fn call_once(self, args: (&mut State,)) -> Self::Output {
+    #[track_caller]
+    fn run(self, state: &mut State) -> Self::Widget {
         Span {
-            children: self.children.add(args.0).arr.into_iter().collect(),
+            children: self.children.add(state).arr.into_iter().collect(),
             dir: self.dir,
             gap: self.gap,
         }
diff --git a/src/widget/text/build.rs b/src/widget/text/build.rs
index b91b43d..9bc225f 100644
--- a/src/widget/text/build.rs
+++ b/src/widget/text/build.rs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, O> TextBuilder<State, O> {
         TextBuilder {
             content: self.content,
             attrs: self.attrs,
-            hint: move |ui: &mut State| Some(hint.add(ui).any()),
+            hint: move |ui: &mut State| Some(hint.add_strong(ui).any()),
             output: self.output,
             state: PhantomData,
         }
diff --git a/src/widget/trait_fns.rs b/src/widget/trait_fns.rs
index 9663158..a4bd893 100644
--- a/src/widget/trait_fns.rs
+++ b/src/widget/trait_fns.rs
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@ widget_trait! {
     fn pad(self, padding: impl Into<Padding>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, Pad> {
         |state| Pad {
             padding: padding.into(),
-            inner: self.add(state),
+            inner: self.add_strong(state),
         }
     }
 
     fn align(self, align: impl Into<Align>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, Aligned> {
         move |state| Aligned {
-            inner: self.add(state),
+            inner: self.add_strong(state),
             align: align.into(),
         }
     }
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ widget_trait! {
     fn label(self, label: impl Into<String>) -> impl WidgetIdFn<State, WL::Widget> {
         |state| {
             let id = self.add(state);
-            state.get_mut().set_label(&id, label.into());
+            state.get_mut().set_label(id, label.into());
             id
         }
     }
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ widget_trait! {
     fn sized(self, size: impl Into<Size>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, Sized> {
         let size = size.into();
         move |state| Sized {
-            inner: self.add(state),
+            inner: self.add_strong(state),
             x: Some(size.x),
             y: Some(size.y),
         }
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ widget_trait! {
     fn max_width(self, len: impl Into<Len>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, MaxSize> {
         let len = len.into();
         move |state| MaxSize {
-            inner: self.add(state),
+            inner: self.add_strong(state),
             x: Some(len),
             y: None,
         }
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ widget_trait! {
     fn max_height(self, len: impl Into<Len>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, MaxSize> {
         let len = len.into();
         move |state| MaxSize {
-            inner: self.add(state),
+            inner: self.add_strong(state),
             x: None,
             y: Some(len),
         }
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ widget_trait! {
     fn width(self, len: impl Into<Len>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, Sized> {
         let len = len.into();
         move |state| Sized {
-            inner: self.add(state),
+            inner: self.add_strong(state),
             x: Some(len),
             y: None,
         }
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ widget_trait! {
     fn height(self, len: impl Into<Len>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, Sized> {
         let len = len.into();
         move |state| Sized {
-            inner: self.add(state),
+            inner: self.add_strong(state),
             x: None,
             y: Some(len),
         }
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ widget_trait! {
 
     fn offset(self, amt: impl Into<UiVec2>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, Offset> {
         move |state| Offset {
-            inner: self.add(state),
+            inner: self.add_strong(state),
             amt: amt.into(),
         }
     }
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ widget_trait! {
     fn scrollable(self) -> impl WidgetIdFn<State, Scroll> where State: HasEvents {
         use eventable::*;
         move |state| {
-            Scroll::new(self.add(state), Axis::Y)
+            Scroll::new(self.add_strong(state), Axis::Y)
                 .on(CursorSense::Scroll, |ctx: &mut EventIdCtx<'_, State::State, CursorData<'_>, Scroll>| {
                     let delta = ctx.data.scroll_delta.y * 50.0;
                     ctx.widget().scroll(delta);
@@ -97,27 +97,27 @@ widget_trait! {
 
     fn masked(self) -> impl WidgetFn<State, Masked> {
         move |state| Masked {
-            inner: self.add(state),
+            inner: self.add_strong(state),
         }
     }
 
     fn background<T>(self, w: impl WidgetLike<State, T>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, Stack> {
         move |state| Stack {
-            children: vec![w.add(state), self.add(state)],
+            children: vec![w.add_strong(state), self.add_strong(state)],
             size: StackSize::Child(1),
         }
     }
 
     fn foreground<T>(self, w: impl WidgetLike<State, T>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, Stack> {
         move |state| Stack {
-            children: vec![self.add(state), w.add(state)],
+            children: vec![self.add_strong(state), w.add_strong(state)],
             size: StackSize::Child(0),
         }
     }
 
     fn layer_offset(self, offset: usize) -> impl WidgetFn<State, LayerOffset> {
         move |state| LayerOffset {
-            inner: self.add(state),
+            inner: self.add_strong(state),
             offset,
         }
     }
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ widget_trait! {
     }
 
     fn set_ptr(self, ptr: WidgetRef<WidgetPtr>, state: &mut State) {
-        let id = self.add(state);
+        let id = self.add_strong(state);
         state.get_mut()[ptr].inner = Some(id);
     }
 }