diff --git a/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp b/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp
--- a/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp
@@ -111,6 +111,13 @@
     wallet_model->setParent(this);
     m_wallets.push_back(wallet_model);
 
+    // WalletModel::startPollBalance needs to be called in a thread managed by
+    // Qt because of startTimer. Considering the current thread can be a RPC
+    // thread, better delegate the calling to Qt with Qt::AutoConnection.
+    const bool called =
+        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(wallet_model, "startPollBalance");
+    assert(called);
+
     connect(
         wallet_model, &WalletModel::unload, this,
         [this, wallet_model] {
diff --git a/src/qt/walletmodel.h b/src/qt/walletmodel.h
--- a/src/qt/walletmodel.h
+++ b/src/qt/walletmodel.h
@@ -271,8 +271,6 @@
     EncryptionStatus cachedEncryptionStatus;
     int cachedNumBlocks;
 
-    QTimer *pollTimer;
-
     void subscribeToCoreSignals();
     void unsubscribeFromCoreSignals();
     void checkBalanceChanged(const interfaces::WalletBalances &new_balances);
@@ -310,7 +308,10 @@
     void canGetAddressesChanged();
 
 public Q_SLOTS:
-    /** Wallet status might have changed. */
+    /* Starts a timer to periodically update the balance */
+    void startPollBalance();
+
+    /* Wallet status might have changed */
     void updateStatus();
     /** New transaction, or transaction changed status. */
     void updateTransaction();
diff --git a/src/qt/walletmodel.cpp b/src/qt/walletmodel.cpp
--- a/src/qt/walletmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/walletmodel.cpp
@@ -37,12 +37,6 @@
     transactionTableModel = new TransactionTableModel(platformStyle, this);
     recentRequestsTableModel = new RecentRequestsTableModel(this);
 
-    // This timer will be fired repeatedly to update the balance
-    pollTimer = new QTimer(this);
-    connect(pollTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this,
-            &WalletModel::pollBalanceChanged);
-    pollTimer->start(MODEL_UPDATE_DELAY);
-
     subscribeToCoreSignals();
 }
 
@@ -50,6 +44,13 @@
     unsubscribeFromCoreSignals();
 }
 
+void WalletModel::startPollBalance() {
+    // This timer will be fired repeatedly to update the balance
+    QTimer *timer = new QTimer(this);
+    connect(timer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &WalletModel::pollBalanceChanged);
+    timer->start(MODEL_UPDATE_DELAY);
+}
+
 void WalletModel::updateStatus() {
     EncryptionStatus newEncryptionStatus = getEncryptionStatus();