diff --git a/ssh.c b/ssh.c
index f3ce6fe0..5d6514b5 100644
--- a/ssh.c
+++ b/ssh.c
@@ -3592,9 +3592,11 @@ static int ssh_test_for_upstream(const char *host, int port, Conf *conf)
     int savedport;
     int ret;
 
+    random_ref(); /* platform may need this to determine share socket name */
     ssh_hostport_setup(host, port, conf, &savedhost, &savedport, NULL);
     ret = ssh_share_test_for_upstream(savedhost, savedport, conf);
     sfree(savedhost);
+    random_unref();
 
     return ret;
 }