diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/freedreno/freedreno_context.c b/src/gallium/drivers/freedreno/freedreno_context.c
index 668ef3629bf..127fb5f5aa0 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/freedreno/freedreno_context.c
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/freedreno/freedreno_context.c
@@ -144,8 +144,10 @@ fd_context_flush(struct pipe_context *pctx, struct pipe_fence_handle **fence,
 {
 	fd_context_render(pctx);
 
-	if (fence)
+	if (fence) {
+		fd_screen_fence_ref(pctx->screen, fence, NULL);
 		*fence = fd_fence_create(pctx);
+	}
 }
 
 void