diff --git a/src/karts/kart_model.cpp b/src/karts/kart_model.cpp
index 933cd13a1c..ccc4632ad1 100644
--- a/src/karts/kart_model.cpp
+++ b/src/karts/kart_model.cpp
@@ -267,7 +267,8 @@ KartModel::~KartModel()
         if(m_is_master && m_wheel_model[i])
         {
             irr_driver->dropAllTextures(m_wheel_model[i]);
-            irr_driver->removeMeshFromCache(m_wheel_model[i]);
+            if (m_wheel_model[i]->getReferenceCount() == 1)
+                irr_driver->removeMeshFromCache(m_wheel_model[i]);
         }
     }