diff --git a/src/gallium/winsys/drm/nouveau/common/nouveau_context.c b/src/gallium/winsys/drm/nouveau/common/nouveau_context.c
index d9321eaa3f9..2c711e583c7 100644
--- a/src/gallium/winsys/drm/nouveau/common/nouveau_context.c
+++ b/src/gallium/winsys/drm/nouveau/common/nouveau_context.c
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ nouveau_context_init(struct nouveau_screen *nv_screen,
 			return 1;
 		}
 		nv_screen->nvc = nvc;
+		pipe_reference_init(&nvc->reference, 1);
 	}
 
 	pipe_reference((struct pipe_reference**)&nv->nvc, &nvc->reference);