diff --git a/src/if_perl.xs b/src/if_perl.xs
index b091bf7..23246a5 100644
--- a/src/if_perl.xs
+++ b/src/if_perl.xs
@@ -844,6 +844,7 @@
     else
 	rv = newBUFrv(newSV(0), curbuf);
     sv_setsv(sv, rv);
+    SvREFCNT_dec(SvRV(rv));
     return 0;
 }
 #endif /* !PROTO */