diff --git a/doc/fcconfig.fncs b/doc/fcconfig.fncs
index 16d1000..3ceab92 100644
--- a/doc/fcconfig.fncs
+++ b/doc/fcconfig.fncs
@@ -29,14 +29,28 @@
 Creates an empty configuration.
 @@
 
+@RET@           FcConfig *
+@FUNC@          FcConfigReference
+@TYPE1@         FcConfig *                      @ARG1@          config
+@PURPOSE@	Increment config reference count
+@DESC@
+Add another reference to <parameter>config</parameter>. Configs are freed only
+when the reference count reaches zero.
+If <parameter>config</parameter> is NULL, the current configuration is used.
+In that case this function will be similar to FcConfigGetCurrent() except that
+it increments the reference count before returning and the user is responsible
+for destroying the configuration when not needed anymore.
+@@
+
 @RET@           void
 @FUNC@          FcConfigDestroy
 @TYPE1@         FcConfig *                      @ARG1@          config
 @PURPOSE@	Destroy a configuration
 @DESC@
-Destroys a configuration and any data associated with it.  Note that calling
-this function with the return from FcConfigGetCurrent will place the library
-in an indeterminate state.
+Decrements the config reference count. If all references are gone, destroys
+the configuration and any data associated with it.
+Note that calling this function with the return from FcConfigGetCurrent will
+cause a new configuration to be created for use as current configuration.
 @@
 
 @RET@           FcBool
diff --git a/fontconfig/fontconfig.h b/fontconfig/fontconfig.h
index 55e1763..4149072 100644
--- a/fontconfig/fontconfig.h
+++ b/fontconfig/fontconfig.h
@@ -342,6 +342,9 @@ FcConfigFilename (const FcChar8 *url);
 FcPublic FcConfig *
 FcConfigCreate (void);
 
+FcPublic FcConfig *
+FcConfigReference (FcConfig *config);
+
 FcPublic void
 FcConfigDestroy (FcConfig *config);
 
diff --git a/src/fccfg.c b/src/fccfg.c
index 85ad0f5..70748c8 100644
--- a/src/fccfg.c
+++ b/src/fccfg.c
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ FcConfigCreate (void)
 
     config->rescanTime = time(0);
     config->rescanInterval = 30;    
+
+    config->ref = 1;
     
     return config;
 
@@ -191,11 +193,29 @@ FcSubstDestroy (FcSubst *s)
     }
 }
 
+FcConfig *
+FcConfigReference (FcConfig *config)
+{
+    if (!config)
+    {
+	config = FcConfigGetCurrent ();
+	if (!config)
+	    return 0;
+    }
+
+    config->ref++;
+
+    return config;
+}
+
 void
 FcConfigDestroy (FcConfig *config)
 {
     FcSetName	set;
 
+    if (--config->ref > 0)
+	return;
+
     if (config == _fcConfig)
 	_fcConfig = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/fcint.h b/src/fcint.h
index 5798702..370dd7e 100644
--- a/src/fcint.h
+++ b/src/fcint.h
@@ -483,6 +483,8 @@ struct _FcConfig {
      */
     time_t	rescanTime;	    /* last time information was scanned */
     int		rescanInterval;	    /* interval between scans */
+
+    int		ref;                /* reference count */
 };
  
 extern FcPrivate FcConfig	*_fcConfig;