diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index 75b3f6ee71..89c5c499dd 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -966,6 +966,8 @@ struct ast_config *ast_config_internal_load(const char *filename, struct ast_con
 
 	if (result)
 		result->include_level--;
+	else
+		cfg->include_level--;
 
 	return result;
 }