diff --git a/newbinding/include/llvm_binding/binding.h b/newbinding/include/llvm_binding/binding.h
index 68af615..b5c5b48 100644
--- a/newbinding/include/llvm_binding/binding.h
+++ b/newbinding/include/llvm_binding/binding.h
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ create_python_submodule(PyObject* parent, const char* name,
     if (-1 == PyModule_AddObject(parent, name, submod)) {
         return NULL;
     }
+    Py_INCREF(submod); // otherwise, it would segfault on exit 
     return submod;
 }