diff --git a/xfconf/xfconf-channel.c b/xfconf/xfconf-channel.c
index b9d887f..7c8ad08 100644
--- a/xfconf/xfconf-channel.c
+++ b/xfconf/xfconf-channel.c
@@ -247,6 +247,8 @@ xfconf_channel_constructor(GType type,
                                                                                               construct_properties));
             g_hash_table_insert(__channel_singletons, g_strdup(channel_name),
                                 channel);
+        } else {
+            g_object_ref(G_OBJECT(channel));
         }
 
         G_UNLOCK(__singletons);