diff --git a/gruel/src/lib/pmt/pmt.cc b/gruel/src/lib/pmt/pmt.cc
index a7e0fd1..04ab8cf 100644
--- a/gruel/src/lib/pmt/pmt.cc
+++ b/gruel/src/lib/pmt/pmt.cc
@@ -58,7 +58,13 @@ pmt_base::operator delete(void *p, size_t size)
 #endif

 void intrusive_ptr_add_ref(pmt_base* p) { ++(p->count_); }
-void intrusive_ptr_release(pmt_base* p) { if (--(p->count_) == 0 ) p->deleter_(
+void intrusive_ptr_release(pmt_base* p) {
+    if (--(p->count_) == 0 ){
+        //make a copy of deleter before we delete its container, p
+        boost::function<void(pmt_base *)> deleter = p->deleter_;
+        deleter(p);
+    }
+}

 pmt_base::~pmt_base()
 {