diff --git a/pylibfdt/libfdt.i b/pylibfdt/libfdt.i
index 075ef70..9ccc57b 100644
--- a/pylibfdt/libfdt.i
+++ b/pylibfdt/libfdt.i
@@ -1040,14 +1040,16 @@ typedef uint32_t fdt32_t;
 
 /* typemap used for fdt_getprop() */
 %typemap(out) (const void *) {
-	if (!$1)
+	if (!$1) {
 		$result = Py_None;
-	else
+		Py_INCREF($result);
+	} else {
         %#if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x03000000
             $result = Py_BuildValue("y#", $1, (Py_ssize_t)*arg4);
         %#else
             $result = Py_BuildValue("s#", $1, (Py_ssize_t)*arg4);
         %#endif
+    }
 }
 
 /* typemap used for fdt_setprop() */