diff --git a/xmlschemas.c b/xmlschemas.c
index 3a3602f..192cfe8 100644
--- a/xmlschemas.c
+++ b/xmlschemas.c
@@ -374,8 +374,8 @@
         return (NULL);
     }
     memset(ret, 0, sizeof(xmlSchema));
-    xmlDictReference(ctxt->dict);
     ret->dict = ctxt->dict;
+    xmlDictReference(ret->dict);
 
     return (ret);
 }