diff --git a/lisp/calculate_lifetimes.carp b/lisp/calculate_lifetimes.carp
index 528c7f8a..a273f3ca 100644
--- a/lisp/calculate_lifetimes.carp
+++ b/lisp/calculate_lifetimes.carp
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@
     (let [ast (:ast data)
           vars (:vars data)
           pos (:pos data)
-          new-data (calculate-lifetimes-internal {:ast arg-ast :vars vars})
+          new-data (if (and (= :literal (:node arg-ast)) (not (ref? arg-ast)))
+                     {:ast arg-ast :vars vars} ;; a literal as an arg to a non-ref parameter doesn't create any new vars to free
+                     (calculate-lifetimes-internal {:ast arg-ast :vars vars}))
           new-arg-ast (:ast new-data)
           new-vars (:vars new-data)
           ;;_ (println (str "AST: " ast))
diff --git a/lisp/compiler_tests.carp b/lisp/compiler_tests.carp
index b4476ad7..990ae0d3 100644
--- a/lisp/compiler_tests.carp
+++ b/lisp/compiler_tests.carp
@@ -191,6 +191,9 @@
 (defn own-string-5 (s)
   (strlen s))
 
+(defn own-string-6 (s)
+  (strlen (ref s)))
+
 ;;(bake own-string-1)
 ;;(bake own-string-2)
 ;;(bake own-string-3)