diff --git a/src/persist.c b/src/persist.c
index 30f78137..ed6f9950 100644
--- a/src/persist.c
+++ b/src/persist.c
@@ -431,6 +431,7 @@ static int _db_client_msg_restore(struct mosquitto_db *db, const char *client_id
 		return 1;
 	}
 	cmsg->store = load->store;
+	cmsg->store->ref_count++;
 
 	context = _db_find_or_add_context(db, client_id, 0);
 	if(!context){