diff --git a/common/options.c b/common/options.c

index 83e0384..a58c5fc 100644

--- a/common/options.c

+++ b/common/options.c

@@ -189,6 +189,8 @@ int parse_option_buffer (options, buffer, length, universe)

 		/* If the length is outrageous, the options are bad. */

 		if (offset + len > length) {

+			/* Avoid reference count overflow */

+			option_dereference(&option, MDL);

 			reason = "option length exceeds option buffer length";

 		      bogus:

 			log_error("parse_option_buffer: malformed option "