diff --git a/src/userfunc.c b/src/userfunc.c
index 0f487fc..db16b68 100644
--- a/src/userfunc.c
+++ b/src/userfunc.c
@@ -3540,6 +3540,12 @@
 	funcexe.fe_lastline = curwin->w_cursor.lnum;
 	funcexe.fe_evaluate = TRUE;
 	funcexe.fe_partial = partial;
+	if (partial != NULL)
+	{
+	    funcexe.fe_object = partial->pt_obj;
+	    if (funcexe.fe_object != NULL)
+		++funcexe.fe_object->obj_refcount;
+	}
 	funcexe.fe_selfdict = selfdict;
 	r = call_func(name, -1, rettv, argc, argv, &funcexe);
     }
@@ -3580,6 +3586,12 @@
     CLEAR_FIELD(funcexe);
     funcexe.fe_evaluate = TRUE;
     funcexe.fe_partial = callback->cb_partial;
+    if (callback->cb_partial != NULL)
+    {
+	funcexe.fe_object = callback->cb_partial->pt_obj;
+	if (funcexe.fe_object != NULL)
+	    ++funcexe.fe_object->obj_refcount;
+    }
     ++callback_depth;
     ret = call_func(callback->cb_name, len, rettv, argcount, argvars, &funcexe);
     --callback_depth;