diff --git a/src/Val.cc b/src/Val.cc
index dd86e71a9e..2aafc30ab2 100644
--- a/src/Val.cc
+++ b/src/Val.cc
@@ -3125,12 +3125,13 @@ void VectorVal::ValDescribe(ODesc* d) const
 	d->Add("]");
 	}
 
-OpaqueVal::OpaqueVal(OpaqueType* t) : Val(t)
+OpaqueVal::OpaqueVal(OpaqueType* t) : Val(t), type(t)
 	{
 	}
 
 OpaqueVal::~OpaqueVal()
 	{
+	Unref(type);
 	}
 
 IMPLEMENT_SERIAL(OpaqueVal, SER_OPAQUE_VAL);
diff --git a/src/Val.h b/src/Val.h
index 4b2705c5b4..8544fbadfd 100644
--- a/src/Val.h
+++ b/src/Val.h
@@ -1024,6 +1024,9 @@ protected:
 	OpaqueVal() { }
 
 	DECLARE_SERIAL(OpaqueVal);
+
+private:
+  OpaqueType* type;
 };
 
 // Checks the given value for consistency with the given type.  If an