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;
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_timers.vim b/src/testdir/test_timers.vim
index 9f58a35..7ef51e5 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_timers.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_timers.vim
@@ -30,3 +30,16 @@
   call assert_true(s:val > 1)
   call assert_true(s:val < 5)
 endfunc
+
+func Test_with_partial_callback()
+  let s:val = 0
+  let s:meow = {}
+  function s:meow.bite(...)
+    let s:val += 1
+  endfunction
+
+  call timer_start(50, s:meow.bite)
+  sleep 200m
+  call assert_equal(1, s:val)
+endfunc
+" vim: ts=2 sw=0 et
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index a3d6e1e..28ac3e5 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -749,6 +749,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    1656,
+/**/
     1655,
 /**/
     1654,