diff --git a/src/corelib/tools/qlocale_p.h b/src/corelib/tools/qlocale_p.h
index cbb07331ab9..56ed6c75345 100644
--- a/src/corelib/tools/qlocale_p.h
+++ b/src/corelib/tools/qlocale_p.h
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ public:
     {
         QLocalePrivate *retval = new QLocalePrivate;
         retval->m_data = data;
-        retval->ref.store(1);
+        retval->ref.store(0);
         retval->m_numberOptions = numberOptions;
         return retval;
     }