--- deliantra/server/common/shstr.c	2006/03/15 14:04:38	1.1.1.2
+++ deliantra/server/common/shstr.c	2006/08/13 17:16:01	1.2
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@
 
 int
 query_refcount(const char *str) {
-    return (SS(str)->refcount) & ~TOPBIT;
+    return SS(str)->refcount;
 }
 
 /*