diff --git a/ChangeLog.txt b/ChangeLog.txt
index e1dd2f1f..7821e570 100644
--- a/ChangeLog.txt
+++ b/ChangeLog.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Broker:
 - Fix TLS operation with websockets listeners and libwebsockts 2.x. Closes
   #186.
 - Don't disconnect client on HUP before reading the pending data. Closes #7.
+- Fix some $SYS messages being incorrectly persisted. Closes #191.
 
 Build:
 - Don't attempt to install docs when WITH_DOCS=no. Closes #184.
diff --git a/src/persist.c b/src/persist.c
index d71fc04b..f416aeab 100644
--- a/src/persist.c
+++ b/src/persist.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ static int mqtt3_db_message_store_write(struct mosquitto_db *db, FILE *db_fptr)
 	stored = db->msg_store;
 	while(stored){
 		if(stored->topic && !strncmp(stored->topic, "$SYS", 4)){
-			if(stored->ref_count == 1 && stored->dest_id_count == 0){
+			if(stored->ref_count <= 1 && stored->dest_id_count == 0){
 				/* $SYS messages that are only retained shouldn't be persisted. */
 				stored = stored->next;
 				continue;