--- liblangtag/lt-tag.c
+++ liblangtag/lt-tag.c
@@ -1408,6 +1408,7 @@
 							  lt_variant_ref(lt_list_value(l)),
 							  (lt_destroy_func_t)lt_variant_unref);
 		}
+		lt_mem_add_ref(&retval->parent, retval->variants, lt_list_free);
 	}
 	if (tag->extension) {
 		lt_tag_set_extension(retval, lt_extension_copy(tag->extension));