diff --git a/crypto/x509/x509_lu.c b/crypto/x509/x509_lu.c
index 38525a8cd..72121f6be 100644
--- a/crypto/x509/x509_lu.c
+++ b/crypto/x509/x509_lu.c
@@ -238,6 +238,19 @@ void X509_STORE_free(X509_STORE *vfy)
 	if (vfy == NULL)
 	    return;
 
+	i=CRYPTO_add(&vfy->references,-1,CRYPTO_LOCK_X509_STORE);
+#ifdef REF_PRINT
+	REF_PRINT("X509_STORE",vfy);
+#endif
+	if (i > 0) return;
+#ifdef REF_CHECK
+	if (i < 0)
+		{
+		fprintf(stderr,"X509_STORE_free, bad reference count\n");
+		abort(); /* ok */
+		}
+#endif
+
 	sk=vfy->get_cert_methods;
 	for (i=0; i<sk_X509_LOOKUP_num(sk); i++)
 		{