diff --git a/src/python/recoll/pyrecoll.cpp b/src/python/recoll/pyrecoll.cpp
index dfc00998..8b4d4286 100644
--- a/src/python/recoll/pyrecoll.cpp
+++ b/src/python/recoll/pyrecoll.cpp
@@ -861,6 +861,7 @@ Query_init(recoll_QueryObject *self, PyObject *, PyObject *)
 static PyObject *
 Query_iter(PyObject *self)
 {
+    Py_INCREF(self);
     return self;
 }