diff --git a/core/AmPlugIn.cpp b/core/AmPlugIn.cpp
index f0e2be39..a28ee35c 100644
--- a/core/AmPlugIn.cpp
+++ b/core/AmPlugIn.cpp
@@ -584,6 +584,7 @@ int AmPlugIn::loadAppPlugIn(AmPluginFactory* f)
     return -1;
   }      
 
+  inc_ref(sf);
   name2app.insert(std::make_pair(sf->getName(),sf));
   DBG("application '%s' loaded.\n",sf->getName().c_str());
 
@@ -643,7 +644,8 @@ int AmPlugIn::loadDiPlugIn(AmPluginFactory* f)
     ERROR("component '%s' already loaded !\n",sf->getName().c_str());
     goto error;
   }
-      
+
+  inc_ref(sf);
   name2di.insert(std::make_pair(sf->getName(),sf));
   DBG("component '%s' loaded.\n",sf->getName().c_str());
 
@@ -666,7 +668,8 @@ int AmPlugIn::loadLogFacPlugIn(AmPluginFactory* f)
 	  sf->getName().c_str());
     goto error;
   }
-      
+
+  inc_ref(sf);
   name2logfac.insert(std::make_pair(sf->getName(),sf));
   DBG("logging facility component '%s' loaded.\n",sf->getName().c_str());