diff --git a/plugins/win-dshow/virtualcam-module/virtualcam-filter.cpp b/plugins/win-dshow/virtualcam-module/virtualcam-filter.cpp
index b39a91be15f8f0..6b128736754c53 100644
--- a/plugins/win-dshow/virtualcam-module/virtualcam-filter.cpp
+++ b/plugins/win-dshow/virtualcam-module/virtualcam-filter.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ extern volatile long locks;
 
 VCamFilter::VCamFilter() : OutputFilter()
 {
+	os_atomic_inc_long(&locks);
+	AddRef();
+
 	thread_start = CreateEvent(nullptr, true, false, nullptr);
 	thread_stop = CreateEvent(nullptr, true, false, nullptr);
 
@@ -94,9 +97,6 @@ VCamFilter::VCamFilter() : OutputFilter()
 	/* ---------------------------------------- */
 
 	th = std::thread([this] { Thread(); });
-
-	AddRef();
-	os_atomic_inc_long(&locks);
 }
 
 VCamFilter::~VCamFilter()
diff --git a/plugins/win-dshow/virtualcam-module/virtualcam-module.cpp b/plugins/win-dshow/virtualcam-module/virtualcam-module.cpp
index 23e0ee4240b7a4..5d6eac2ce9f2fb 100644
--- a/plugins/win-dshow/virtualcam-module/virtualcam-module.cpp
+++ b/plugins/win-dshow/virtualcam-module/virtualcam-module.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ class VCamFactory : public IClassFactory {
 	CLSID cls;
 
 public:
-	inline VCamFactory(CLSID cls_) : cls(cls_) {}
+	inline VCamFactory(CLSID cls_) : cls(cls_) { os_atomic_inc_long(&locks); }
+	inline ~VCamFactory() { os_atomic_dec_long(&locks); }
 
 	// IUnknown
 	STDMETHODIMP QueryInterface(REFIID riid, void **p_ptr);