diff --git a/tinygrad/engine/schedule.py b/tinygrad/engine/schedule.py
index c18deae240..a3fabca778 100644
--- a/tinygrad/engine/schedule.py
+++ b/tinygrad/engine/schedule.py
@@ -440,7 +440,6 @@ def create_schedule_with_vars(big_sink:UOp) -> tuple[list[ScheduleItem], dict[Va
     for tensor_uop in buf_tensors[buf_uop]:
       # ASSIGN just becomes the buffer in source, otherwise we reshape the buffer
       becomes_map[tensor_uop] = tensor_uop.src[0] if tensor_uop.op is Ops.ASSIGN else buf_uop.reshape(tensor_uop.shape)
-    buf_uop.buffer.ref(1)
 
   # create kernels, TODO: this should use the SINK from tensor_map
   graph_rewrite(sink, break_sched, ctx)
@@ -475,6 +474,8 @@ def create_schedule_with_vars(big_sink:UOp) -> tuple[list[ScheduleItem], dict[Va
   schedule: list[ScheduleItem] = []
   while queue:
     schedule.append(si:=queue.popleft())
+    # NOTE: incrementing output buffer refcounts is required by the memory planner and JIT
+    for out in si.outputs: out.ref(1)
     for x in graph[si]:
       in_degree[x] -= 1
       if in_degree[x] == 0: queue.append(x)