diff --git a/daemon/gamemode-context.c b/daemon/gamemode-context.c
index 3108e70..d04fdcc 100644
--- a/daemon/gamemode-context.c
+++ b/daemon/gamemode-context.c
@@ -638,6 +638,14 @@ void game_mode_client_unref(GameModeClient *client)
 	free(client);
 }
 
+void game_mode_client_ref(GameModeClient *client)
+{
+	if (!client) {
+		return;
+	}
+	atomic_fetch_add_explicit(&client->refcount, 1, memory_order_seq_cst);
+}
+
 /* Internal refresh config function (assumes no contention with reaper thread) */
 static void game_mode_reload_config_internal(GameModeContext *self)
 {
diff --git a/daemon/gamemode.h b/daemon/gamemode.h
index 03d9822..3901be8 100644
--- a/daemon/gamemode.h
+++ b/daemon/gamemode.h
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ typedef struct GameModeClient GameModeClient;
  */
 void game_mode_client_unref(GameModeClient *client);
 
+/**
+ * Increment the usage count of client.
+ */
+void game_mode_client_ref(GameModeClient *client);
+
 /**
  * Return the singleton instance
  */