Fix regression in mechanism to hold objects while emitting

Author: RandomShaper

core/object/object.cpp

@@ -1216,6 +1216,10 @@ Error Object::emit_signalp(const StringName &p_name, const Variant **p_args, int
 	uint32_t *slot_flags = nullptr;
 	uint32_t slot_count = 0;
 
+	// If this is a ref-counted object, prevent it from being destroyed during signal emission,
+	// which is needed in certain edge cases; e.g., GH-73889 and GH-109471.
+	Ref<RefCounted> rc = Ref<RefCounted>(Object::cast_to<RefCounted>(this));
+
 	{
 		OBJ_SIGNAL_LOCK
 
@@ -1230,10 +1234,6 @@ Error Object::emit_signalp(const StringName &p_name, const Variant **p_args, int
 			return ERR_UNAVAILABLE;
 		}
 
-		// If this is a ref-counted object, prevent it from being destroyed during signal emission,
-		// which is needed in certain edge cases; e.g., https://github.com/godotengine/godot/issues/73889.
-		Ref<RefCounted> rc = Ref<RefCounted>(Object::cast_to<RefCounted>(this));
-
 		// Ensure that disconnecting the signal or even deleting the object
 		// will not affect the signal calling.
 		slot_callables = (Callable *)alloca(sizeof(Callable) * s->slot_map.size());