diff --git a/cogl/driver/gl/cogl-program.c b/cogl/driver/gl/cogl-program.c
index 84dd60486..73b1fd7d0 100644
--- a/cogl/driver/gl/cogl-program.c
+++ b/cogl/driver/gl/cogl-program.c
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
 static void _cogl_program_free (CoglProgram *program);
 
 COGL_HANDLE_DEFINE (Program, program);
+COGL_OBJECT_DEFINE_DEPRECATED_REF_COUNTING (program);
 
 static void
 _cogl_program_free (CoglProgram *program)
diff --git a/cogl/driver/gles/cogl-program.c b/cogl/driver/gles/cogl-program.c
index 1254afc70..c28dbfada 100644
--- a/cogl/driver/gles/cogl-program.c
+++ b/cogl/driver/gles/cogl-program.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 static void _cogl_program_free (CoglProgram *program);
 
 COGL_HANDLE_DEFINE (Program, program);
+COGL_OBJECT_DEFINE_DEPRECATED_REF_COUNTING (program);
 
 static void
 _cogl_program_free (CoglProgram *program)