diff --git a/modules/gdscript/gd_compiler.cpp b/modules/gdscript/gd_compiler.cpp
index d8c0587226c..10c54435e43 100644
--- a/modules/gdscript/gd_compiler.cpp
+++ b/modules/gdscript/gd_compiler.cpp
@@ -1470,7 +1470,8 @@ Error GDCompiler::_parse_class(GDScript *p_script,GDScript *p_owner,const GDPars
 					String sub = p_class->extends_class[i];
 					if (script->subclasses.has(sub)) {
 
-						script=script->subclasses[sub];
+						Ref<Script> subclass = script->subclasses[sub]; //avoid reference from dissapearing
+						script=subclass;
 					} else {
 
 						_set_error("Could not find subclass: "+sub,p_class);
@@ -1647,6 +1648,7 @@ Error GDCompiler::_parse_class(GDScript *p_script,GDScript *p_owner,const GDPars
 		if (err)
 			return err;
 
+
 		p_script->constants.insert(name,subclass); //once parsed, goes to the list of constants
 		p_script->subclasses.insert(name,subclass);