diff --git a/timeline/src/Engine/Audio_File.C b/timeline/src/Engine/Audio_File.C
index 285380e..0d70346 100644
--- a/timeline/src/Engine/Audio_File.C
+++ b/timeline/src/Engine/Audio_File.C
@@ -147,8 +147,6 @@ done:
 
     _open_files[ std::string( filename ) ] = a;
 
-    a->_refs = 1;
-
     return a;
 }
 
diff --git a/timeline/src/Engine/Audio_File.H b/timeline/src/Engine/Audio_File.H
index 068074b..baeedee 100644
--- a/timeline/src/Engine/Audio_File.H
+++ b/timeline/src/Engine/Audio_File.H
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public:
             _path =_filename = NULL;
             _samplerate = 0;
             _length = _channels = 0;
-            _refs = 0;
+            _refs = 1;
         }
 
     virtual ~Audio_File ( );