diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 2256589..06f3585 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -20190,6 +20190,7 @@
     if (arg->v_type == VAR_PARTIAL && arg->vval.v_partial != NULL)
     {
 	*pp = arg->vval.v_partial;
+	++(*pp)->pt_refcount;
 	return (*pp)->pt_name;
     }
     *pp = NULL;