diff --git a/mem/buffers.go b/mem/buffers.go
index 0ebcda22f9fe..140eb7d5a4c7 100644
--- a/mem/buffers.go
+++ b/mem/buffers.go
@@ -144,11 +144,12 @@ func (b *buffer) ReadOnlyData() []byte {
 }
 
 func (b *buffer) Ref() {
-	b.refCallers = append(b.refCallers, fmt.Sprintf("Count: %d, time: %s, %s", b.refs.Load(), time.Now(), string(debug.Stack())))
 	if b.refs == nil {
 		panic("Cannot ref freed buffer")
 	}
-	b.refs.Add(1)
+	val := b.refs.Add(1)
+	b.refCallers = append(b.refCallers, fmt.Sprintf("Count: %d, time: %s, %s", val, time.Now(), string(debug.Stack())))
+
 }
 
 func (b *buffer) Track() {