diff --git a/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/DefaultConfiguration.java b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/DefaultConfiguration.java
index c5214297b6..931312e220 100644
--- a/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/DefaultConfiguration.java
+++ b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/DefaultConfiguration.java
@@ -578,10 +578,7 @@ public class DefaultConfiguration implements Configuration {
      */
     @Override
     public final Configuration set(RecordMapperProvider newRecordMapperProvider) {
-        this.recordMapperProvider = newRecordMapperProvider != null
-            ? newRecordMapperProvider
-            : new DefaultRecordMapperProvider(this);
-
+        this.recordMapperProvider = newRecordMapperProvider;
         return this;
     }
 
@@ -762,7 +759,12 @@ public class DefaultConfiguration implements Configuration {
      */
     @Override
     public final RecordMapperProvider recordMapperProvider() {
-        return recordMapperProvider;
+
+        // [#3915] Avoid permanently referencing such a DefaultRecordMapperProvider from this
+        // DefaultConfiguration to prevent memory leaks.
+        return recordMapperProvider != null
+             ? recordMapperProvider
+             : new DefaultRecordMapperProvider(this);
     }
 
     /**