diff --git a/src/olympic/keel/include/keel/assetmanager.hpp b/src/olympic/keel/include/keel/assetmanager.hpp
index 62cda92a..2719e455 100644
--- a/src/olympic/keel/include/keel/assetmanager.hpp
+++ b/src/olympic/keel/include/keel/assetmanager.hpp
@@ -64,11 +64,13 @@ class AssetContainer {
 
 	protected:
 		constexpr void incRefs() const noexcept {
+			oxAssert(m_references < ox::MaxValue<decltype(m_references)>, "reference count exceeds maximum");
 			++m_references;
 		}
 
 		constexpr void decRefs() const noexcept {
 			--m_references;
+			oxAssert(m_references >= 0, "negative references");
 		}
 
 		[[nodiscard]]
@@ -162,6 +164,7 @@ template<typename T>
 constexpr AssetRef<T>::AssetRef(AssetContainer<T> const*c) noexcept: m_ctr(c) {
 	if (m_ctr) {
 		m_ctr->updated.connect(this, &AssetRef::emitUpdated);
+		m_ctr->incRefs();
 	}
 }