diff --git a/src/osmo-bsc/bsc_subscriber.c b/src/osmo-bsc/bsc_subscriber.c
index d9d90baa9..65a660b40 100644
--- a/src/osmo-bsc/bsc_subscriber.c
+++ b/src/osmo-bsc/bsc_subscriber.c
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ static struct bsc_subscr *bsc_subscr_alloc(struct llist_head *list)
 		return NULL;
 
 	llist_add_tail(&bsub->entry, list);
-	bsub->use_count = 1;
 
 	return bsub;
 }
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ struct bsc_subscr *bsc_subscr_find_or_create_by_imsi(struct llist_head *list,
 		return bsub;
 	bsub = bsc_subscr_alloc(list);
 	bsc_subscr_set_imsi(bsub, imsi);
-	return bsub;
+	return bsc_subscr_get(bsub);
 }
 
 struct bsc_subscr *bsc_subscr_find_or_create_by_tmsi(struct llist_head *list,
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ struct bsc_subscr *bsc_subscr_find_or_create_by_tmsi(struct llist_head *list,
 		return bsub;
 	bsub = bsc_subscr_alloc(list);
 	bsub->tmsi = tmsi;
-	return bsub;
+	return bsc_subscr_get(bsub);
 }
 
 const char *bsc_subscr_name(struct bsc_subscr *bsub)
diff --git a/tests/subscr/bsc_subscr_test.err b/tests/subscr/bsc_subscr_test.err
index a66317a36..afc8bf778 100644
--- a/tests/subscr/bsc_subscr_test.err
+++ b/tests/subscr/bsc_subscr_test.err
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+DREF BSC subscr IMSI:1234567890 usage increases to: 1
 DREF BSC subscr IMSI:1234567890 usage increases to: 2
 DREF BSC subscr IMSI:1234567890 usage decreases to: 1
+DREF BSC subscr IMSI:9876543210 usage increases to: 1
+DREF BSC subscr IMSI:5656565656 usage increases to: 1
 DREF BSC subscr IMSI:1234567890 usage increases to: 2
 DREF BSC subscr IMSI:1234567890 usage decreases to: 1
 DREF BSC subscr IMSI:9876543210 usage increases to: 2