diff --git a/packages/lite_ref/lib/src/scoped/ref.dart b/packages/lite_ref/lib/src/scoped/ref.dart
index 9c8aa53..ae3c50e 100644
--- a/packages/lite_ref/lib/src/scoped/ref.dart
+++ b/packages/lite_ref/lib/src/scoped/ref.dart
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ class ScopedRef<T> {
 
   /// Returns the instance of [T] in the current scope.
   ///
+  /// If [listen] is `false`, theinstance will not be disposed when the widget
+  /// is unmounted.
+  ///
   /// ```dart
   /// class SettingsPage extends StatelessWidget {
   ///   const SettingsPage({super.key});
@@ -80,7 +83,7 @@ class ScopedRef<T> {
   ///   }
   /// }
   /// ```
-  T of(BuildContext context) {
+  T of(BuildContext context, {bool listen = true}) {
     assert(
       context is Element,
       'This must be called with the context of a Widget.',
@@ -90,10 +93,14 @@ class ScopedRef<T> {
 
     final existing = element._cache[_id];
 
-    if (existing != null) {
-      if (autoDispose) {
-        element._addAutoDisposeBinding(context as Element, existing);
+    void autoDisposeIfNeeded(ScopedRef<dynamic> ref) {
+      if (autoDispose && listen) {
+        element._addAutoDisposeBinding(context as Element, ref);
       }
+    }
+
+    if (existing != null) {
+      autoDisposeIfNeeded(existing);
       return existing._instance as T;
     }
 
@@ -102,15 +109,11 @@ class ScopedRef<T> {
     if (refOverride != null) {
       refOverride._init(context);
       element._cache[_id] = refOverride;
-      if (autoDispose) {
-        element._addAutoDisposeBinding(context as Element, refOverride);
-      }
+      autoDisposeIfNeeded(refOverride);
       return refOverride._instance as T;
     }
 
-    if (autoDispose) {
-      element._addAutoDisposeBinding(context as Element, this);
-    }
+    autoDisposeIfNeeded(this);
 
     _init(context);
 
@@ -119,6 +122,15 @@ class ScopedRef<T> {
     return _instance as T;
   }
 
+  /// Returns the instance of [T] in the current scope without disposing it
+  /// when the widget is unmounted. This should be used in callbacks like
+  /// `onPressed` or `onTap`.
+  ///
+  /// Alias for `of(context, listen: false)`.
+  T read(BuildContext context) {
+    return of(context, listen: false);
+  }
+
   /// Equivalent to calling the [of(context)] getter.
   T call(BuildContext context) => of(context);
 
diff --git a/packages/lite_ref/test/src/scoped/ref_test.dart b/packages/lite_ref/test/src/scoped/ref_test.dart
index 5327056..3665d44 100644
--- a/packages/lite_ref/test/src/scoped/ref_test.dart
+++ b/packages/lite_ref/test/src/scoped/ref_test.dart
@@ -617,6 +617,112 @@ void main() {
       expect(find.text('2'), findsOneWidget);
     },
   );
+
+  testWidgets(
+    'should dispose when all children are unmounted and it is read in parent',
+    (tester) async {
+      final disposed = <int>[];
+      final countRef = Ref.scoped((ctx) => 1, dispose: disposed.add);
+      final amount = ValueNotifier(3);
+
+      await tester.pumpWidget(
+        MaterialApp(
+          home: LiteRefScope(
+            child: Column(
+              children: [
+                Builder(
+                  builder: (context) {
+                    return Text('read ${countRef.read(context)}');
+                  },
+                ),
+                ListenableBuilder(
+                  listenable: amount,
+                  builder: (context, snapshot) {
+                    return Column(
+                      children: [
+                        const SizedBox.shrink(),
+                        for (var i = 0; i < amount.value; i++)
+                          Builder(
+                            builder: (context) {
+                              final val = countRef(context);
+                              expect(val, 1);
+                              return Text('$val');
+                            },
+                          ),
+                      ],
+                    );
+                  },
+                ),
+              ],
+            ),
+          ),
+        ),
+      );
+
+      await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+
+      expect(find.text('1'), findsExactly(amount.value));
+      expect(find.text('read 1'), findsOneWidget);
+
+      expect(disposed, isEmpty);
+
+      amount.value = 2;
+
+      await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+
+      expect(find.text('1'), findsExactly(amount.value));
+
+      expect(disposed, isEmpty); // still has listeners
+
+      amount.value = 0;
+
+      await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+
+      expect(find.text('1'), findsNothing);
+
+      expect(disposed, [1]); // dispose when all children are unmounted
+      expect(find.text('read 1'), findsOneWidget);
+    },
+  );
+
+  testWidgets(
+    'should NOT dispose when scope is unmounted and only access was a "read"',
+    (tester) async {
+      final disposed = <int>[];
+      final countRef = Ref.scoped((ctx) => 1, dispose: disposed.add);
+      final show = ValueNotifier(true);
+      await tester.pumpWidget(
+        MaterialApp(
+          home: LiteRefScope(
+            child: ValueListenableBuilder(
+              valueListenable: show,
+              builder: (__, value, _) {
+                if (!value) return const SizedBox.shrink();
+                return Builder(
+                  builder: (context) {
+                    final val = countRef.read(context);
+                    expect(val, 1);
+                    return Text('$val');
+                  },
+                );
+              },
+            ),
+          ),
+        ),
+      );
+
+      await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+
+      expect(find.text('1'), findsOneWidget);
+      expect(disposed, isEmpty); // overriden instance should be disposed
+
+      show.value = false;
+
+      await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+
+      expect(disposed, isEmpty);
+    },
+  );
 }
 
 class _Resource implements Disposable {