<html> <head> <style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } </style> </head> <body class='hmmessage'> > From: chris@chris-wilson.co.uk > > As I read it, the check on the reference count needs to be performed > before we remove the entry from the hash table - but otherwise the > analysis is spot on. As long as the check on the reference count is performed AFTER the hash table is locked and before the entry is removed, then it seems good (and this is almost certainly what you meant, but I wanted to clarify) and won't leave any orphaned objects like my suggestion.  In the existing code there's already a check (in the calling function) before the entry is removed and before the table is locked, yet there's a race because the reaching a reference count of 0 isn't atomic with entry removal. Thanks, -- Paul </body> </html>