diff --git a/modules/modperl.cpp b/modules/modperl.cpp
index 31abfc28..fb657926 100644
--- a/modules/modperl.cpp
+++ b/modules/modperl.cpp
@@ -1009,11 +1009,13 @@ bool CModPerl::OnLoad( const CString & sArgs, CString & sMessage )
 	// this sets up the eval CB that we call from here on out. this way we can grab the error produced
 	SetupZNCScript();
 
-	HV *pZNCSpace = get_hv ( "ZNC::", TRUE);
+	HV *pZNCSpace = get_hv( "ZNC::", TRUE);
 
 	if ( !pZNCSpace )
 		return( false );
 
+	sv_2mortal((SV*)pZNCSpace);
+
 	newCONSTSUB( pZNCSpace, "CONTINUE", newSViv( CONTINUE ) );
 	newCONSTSUB( pZNCSpace, "HALT", newSViv( HALT ) );
 	newCONSTSUB( pZNCSpace, "HALTMODS", newSViv( HALTMODS ) );