diff --git a/main/config.c b/main/config.c
index 9dafa72fd8..a96d1ae17f 100644
--- a/main/config.c
+++ b/main/config.c
@@ -1269,6 +1269,8 @@ struct ast_config *ast_config_internal_load(const char *filename, struct ast_con
 
 	if (result)
 		result->include_level--;
+	else
+		cfg->include_level--;
 
 	return result;
 }