diff --git a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_ops.c b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_ops.c
index 40ebc946e79..fb95cdf389b 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_ops.c
+++ b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_ops.c
@@ -739,6 +739,7 @@ static int editsource_text_edit(
 
 	if (text == NULL) {
 		text = BKE_text_load(bmain, filepath, bmain->name);
+		id_us_ensure_real(&text->id);
 	}
 
 	if (text == NULL) {