diff --git a/db/memtablelist.cc b/db/memtablelist.cc
index b52563ae8d..884e326aaf 100644
--- a/db/memtablelist.cc
+++ b/db/memtablelist.cc
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ MemTableListVersion::MemTableListVersion(MemTableListVersion* old) {
 void MemTableListVersion::Ref() { ++refs_; }
 
 void MemTableListVersion::Unref(std::vector<MemTable*>* to_delete) {
+  assert(refs_ >= 1);
   --refs_;
   if (refs_ == 0) {
     // if to_delete is equal to nullptr it means we're confident
@@ -255,6 +256,7 @@ void MemTableList::InstallNewVersion() {
     // somebody else holds the current version, we need to create new one
     MemTableListVersion* version = current_;
     current_ = new MemTableListVersion(current_);
+    current_->Ref();
     version->Unref();
   }
 }
diff --git a/db/memtablelist.h b/db/memtablelist.h
index 354e9872a1..16bb49743a 100644
--- a/db/memtablelist.h
+++ b/db/memtablelist.h
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class MemTableListVersion {
   friend class MemTableList;
   std::list<MemTable*> memlist_;
   int size_ = 0;
-  int refs_ = 1;
+  int refs_ = 0;
 };
 
 // This class stores references to all the immutable memtables.