diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/geom/main.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/geom/main.py
index 9cf79934aa..c64d262e6f 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/geom/main.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/geom/main.py
@@ -482,8 +482,8 @@ def create_shape(
     """
     Returns a geometric interpretation of the IFC entity instance
 
-    Note that in Python, you must store a reference to the element returned by this function to prevent garbage
-    collection when you access its children. See #1124.
+    The returned element's ``geometry`` keeps a reference to its owning element, so accessing children
+    (e.g. ``create_shape(...).geometry.verts``) no longer requires holding onto the element. See #1124.
 
     :raises RuntimeError: If failed to process shape. You can turn detailed logging to get more details.
 
diff --git a/src/ifcwrap/IfcGeomWrapper.i b/src/ifcwrap/IfcGeomWrapper.i
index 10c9b02395..b6dffb3b6e 100644
--- a/src/ifcwrap/IfcGeomWrapper.i
+++ b/src/ifcwrap/IfcGeomWrapper.i
@@ -793,14 +793,24 @@ struct ShapeRTTI : public boost::static_visitor<PyObject*>
 %extend IfcGeom::TriangulationElement {
 	%pythoncode %{
         # Hide the getters with read-only property implementations
-        geometry = property(geometry)
+        # Keep the owning element alive while its geometry is referenced (#1124).
+        def _geometry_with_backref(self, _f=geometry):
+            result = _f(self)
+            result._parent = self
+            return result
+        geometry = property(_geometry_with_backref)
 	%}
 };
 
 %extend IfcGeom::SerializedElement {
 	%pythoncode %{
         # Hide the getters with read-only property implementations
-        geometry = property(geometry)
+        # Keep the owning element alive while its geometry is referenced (#1124).
+        def _geometry_with_backref(self, _f=geometry):
+            result = _f(self)
+            result._parent = self
+            return result
+        geometry = property(_geometry_with_backref)
 	%}
 };
 
@@ -825,10 +835,15 @@ struct ShapeRTTI : public boost::static_visitor<PyObject*>
 
     %pythoncode %{
         # Hide the getters with read-only property implementations
-        geometry = property(geometry)
+        # Keep the owning element alive while its geometry is referenced (#1124).
+        def _geometry_with_backref(self, _f=geometry):
+            result = _f(self)
+            result._parent = self
+            return result
+        geometry = property(_geometry_with_backref)
         volume = property(calc_volume_)
         surface_area = property(calc_surface_area_)
-    %}    
+    %}
 };
 
 /*