diff --git a/Zend/zend_variables.c b/Zend/zend_variables.c
index da3fedb5058..6d5452c94ea 100644
--- a/Zend/zend_variables.c
+++ b/Zend/zend_variables.c
@@ -89,14 +89,22 @@ ZEND_API int _zval_dtor(zval *zvalue ZEND_FILE_LINE_DC)
 }
 
 
+void zval_del_ref(zval **p)
+{
+	(*p)->refcount--;
+	if ((*p)->refcount==0) {
+		zval_dtor(*p);
+		efree(*p);
+	}
+}                                                                                                                               
+
+
 void zval_add_ref(zval **p)
 {
 	(*p)->refcount++;
 }
 
 
-
-
 ZEND_API int _zval_copy_ctor(zval *zvalue ZEND_FILE_LINE_DC)
 {
 	switch (zvalue->type) {
diff --git a/Zend/zend_variables.h b/Zend/zend_variables.h
index cdfa1c4ecaf..ce1d7f06d5a 100644
--- a/Zend/zend_variables.h
+++ b/Zend/zend_variables.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ END_EXTERN_C()
 
 
 void zval_add_ref(zval **p);
+void zval_del_ref(zval **p);
 
 #define PVAL_DESTRUCTOR (int (*)(void *)) zval_dtor_wrapper
 #define PVAL_PTR_DTOR (int (*)(void *)) zval_ptr_dtor_wrapper