diff --git a/include/pybind11/functional.h b/include/pybind11/functional.h
index b9bf38919..bc8a8af82 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/functional.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/functional.h
@@ -70,9 +70,11 @@ public:
         struct func_handle {
             function f;
             func_handle(function &&f_) noexcept : f(std::move(f_)) {}
-            func_handle(const func_handle& f_) {
+            func_handle(const func_handle &f_) { operator=(f_); }
+            func_handle &operator=(const func_handle &f_) {
                 gil_scoped_acquire acq;
                 f = f_.f;
+                return *this;
             }
             ~func_handle() {
                 gil_scoped_acquire acq;