diff --git a/src/p_polyobj.c b/src/p_polyobj.c
index fa98ad9a..eef53bd1 100644
--- a/src/p_polyobj.c
+++ b/src/p_polyobj.c
@@ -150,6 +150,8 @@ FUNCINLINE static ATTRINLINE void PolyObj_AddThinker(thinker_t *th)
 	th->next = thinkercap.next;
 	th->prev = &thinkercap;
 	thinkercap.next = th;
+
+	th->references = 0; // init to 0 so they can be properly removed
 }
 
 //