Index: src/vortex_connection.c
===================================================================
--- src/vortex_connection.c	(revision 688)
+++ src/vortex_connection.c	(revision 689)
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
  */
 
 /* global include */
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <vortex.h>
 
 /* private include */
@@ -2118,6 +2119,7 @@
 
 	/* decrease reference counting */
 	connection->ref_count--;
+   assert( connection->ref_count >= 0 );
 
 	vortex_log (LOG_DOMAIN, VORTEX_LEVEL_DEBUG, "decreased connection id=%d reference count to %d decreased by %s", 
 	       connection->id,
Index: src/vortex_channel.c
===================================================================
--- src/vortex_channel.c	(revision 688)
+++ src/vortex_channel.c	(revision 689)
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
  *      Email address:
  *         info@aspl.es - http://www.aspl.es/vortex
  */
-
+#include <assert.h>
 #define LOG_DOMAIN "vortex-channel"
 
 /** 
@@ -3970,6 +3970,7 @@
 
 	/* decrease the channel */
 	channel->ref_count--;
+   assert( channel->ref_count >= 0 );
 
 	vortex_log (LOG_DOMAIN, VORTEX_LEVEL_DEBUG, "channel=%d unref called, ref count status after calling=%d", 
 		    channel->channel_num, channel->ref_count);
Index: src/vortex_frame_factory.c
===================================================================
--- src/vortex_frame_factory.c	(revision 688)
+++ src/vortex_frame_factory.c	(revision 689)
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
  *      Email address:
  *         info@aspl.es - http://www.aspl.es/vortex
  */
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <vortex.h>
 
 /* local include */
@@ -143,6 +144,7 @@
 	/* check reference counting */
 	vortex_mutex_lock (&status->ref_mutex);
 	status->ref_count--;
+   assert( status->ref_count >= 0 );
 	if (status->ref_count != 0) {
 		/* this caller won't terminate this mime status */
 		vortex_mutex_unlock (&status->ref_mutex);
@@ -1748,7 +1750,8 @@
 	
 	/* decrease reference counting */
 	frame->ref_count--;
-
+   assert( frame->ref_count >= 0 );
+   
 	/* check and dealloc */
 	if (frame->ref_count == 0) {
 		vortex_frame_free (frame);
Index: src/vortex_hash.c
===================================================================
--- src/vortex_hash.c	(revision 688)
+++ src/vortex_hash.c	(revision 689)
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
  *      Email address:
  *         info@aspl.es - http://www.aspl.es/vortex
  */
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <vortex.h>
 #define LOG_DOMAIN "vortex-hash"
 
@@ -500,6 +501,7 @@
 	
 	/* reduce reference counting */
 	hash_table->ref_count--;
+   assert( hash_table->ref_count >= 0 );
 	if (hash_table->ref_count != 0) {
 		/* unlock the mutex and returns: more callers have a
 		 * referece to this hash */