Ben Affleck enlisted a hypnotist to help him stop smoking.

The 'Argo' director's wife Jennifer Garner - with who he has children Violet, six, Seraphina, three, and nine-month-old Samuel - was so sick of his nicotine habit that she insisted Ben take the drastic steps to quit once and for all.

And the former 'Alias' star warned her spouse he had to ditch the deadly cigarettes before Christmas.

A source told National Enquirer magazine: ''Ben got hooked on cigarettes again while making 'Argo' but he kicked the habit after a stern talking to from Jennifer.

''She wanted her family to come to Los Angeles from West Virginia to celebrate Christmas with them and their kids.

''But she told Ben, 'I'm not going to have you sneaking outside every 20 minutes and coming back smelling like smoke. I'll tell them not to come before that happens.'

''Ben got the message and went to a hypnotist to quit.''