diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index ba456f2..ea24a9c 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -12008,6 +12008,8 @@
 	rettv->v_type = VAR_LIST;
 	rettv->vval.v_list = (list_T *)get_reg_contents(regname,
 				      (arg2 ? GREG_EXPR_SRC : 0) | GREG_LIST);
+	if (rettv->vval.v_list != NULL)
+	    ++rettv->vval.v_list->lv_refcount;
     }
     else
     {