diff --git a/vsengine/_hospice.py b/vsengine/_hospice.py
index 7131c2a..f890575 100644
--- a/vsengine/_hospice.py
+++ b/vsengine/_hospice.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def unfreeze():
 
 
 def _is_core_still_used(ident: int) -> bool:
-    return sys.getrefcount(cores[ident]) > 2
+    return sys.getrefcount(cores[ident]) > 3
 
 
 def _add_tostage1(ident: int) -> None: