diff --git a/include/osg/OperationThread b/include/osg/OperationThread
index a62157ea1..ec8e16c63 100644
--- a/include/osg/OperationThread
+++ b/include/osg/OperationThread
@@ -77,9 +77,11 @@ class Operation : virtual public Referenced
 protected:
 
         Operation():
+            Referenced(true),
             _keep(false) {}
 
         Operation(const Operation& op):
+            Referenced(true),
             _name(op._name),
             _keep(op._keep) {}