diff --git a/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Handle_with_policy.h b/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Handle_with_policy.h
index df463d2d321..905a5435758 100644
--- a/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Handle_with_policy.h
+++ b/STL_Extension/include/CGAL/Handle_with_policy.h
@@ -555,6 +555,7 @@ public:
                     }
                 } else {
                     h.delete_rep( rep); // we have to delete the current rep
+		    tmp->remove_reference();
                 }                
                 rep = tmp;
             }