diff --git a/src/netopeerguid.c b/src/netopeerguid.c
index 1015959..fde6598 100644
--- a/src/netopeerguid.c
+++ b/src/netopeerguid.c
@@ -2832,7 +2832,7 @@
             ERROR("Error while unlocking rwlock: %d (%s)", errno, strerror(errno));
         }
         if (locked_session->hello_message != NULL) {
-            reply = locked_session->hello_message;
+            reply = json_object_get(locked_session->hello_message);
         } else {
             reply = create_error_reply("Invalid session identifier.");
         }
@@ -2997,7 +2997,7 @@
     }
 
     if ((reply == NULL) && (locked_session->hello_message != NULL)) {
-        reply = locked_session->hello_message;
+        reply = json_object_get(locked_session->hello_message);
     }
 
     return reply;