diff --git a/examples/userfs/userfs_main.c b/examples/userfs/userfs_main.c
index a007778e7..f53a75365 100644
--- a/examples/userfs/userfs_main.c
+++ b/examples/userfs/userfs_main.c
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ struct ufstest_file_s
 struct ufstest_openfile_s
 {
   int16_t pos;
+  int16_t crefs;
   FAR struct ufstest_file_s *file;
 };
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ static int     ufstest_ioctl(FAR void *volinfo, FAR void *openinfo, int cmd,
                  unsigned long arg);
 static int     ufstest_sync(FAR void *volinfo, FAR void *openinfo);
 static int     ufstest_dup(FAR void *volinfo, FAR void *oldinfo,
-                 FAR void *newinfo);
+                 FAR void **newinfo);
 static int     ufstest_fstat(FAR void *volinfo, FAR void *openinfo,
                  FAR struct stat *buf);
 static int     ufstest_opendir(FAR void *volinfo, FAR const char *relpath,
@@ -243,6 +244,14 @@ static int ufstest_open(FAR void *volinfo, FAR const char *relpath,
 
       opriv->file = file;
 
+      /* Initiallly, there is one refernce count on the open data.  This may
+       * be incremented in the event that the file is dup'ed.
+       */
+
+      opriv->crefs = 1;
+
+      /* Return the opaque reference to the open data */
+
       *openinfo = opriv;
       return OK;
     }
@@ -252,9 +261,19 @@ static int ufstest_open(FAR void *volinfo, FAR const char *relpath,
 
 static int ufstest_close(FAR void *volinfo, FAR void *openinfo)
 {
-  if (openinfo != NULL)
+  FAR struct ufstest_openfile_s *opriv =
+    (FAR struct ufstest_openfile_s *)openinfo;
+
+  if (opriv != NULL)
     {
-      free(openinfo);
+      if (opriv->crefs <= 1)
+        {
+          free(opriv);
+        }
+      else
+        {
+          opriv->crefs--;
+        }
     }
 
   return OK;
@@ -360,9 +379,18 @@ static int ufstest_sync(FAR void *volinfo, FAR void *openinfo)
 }
 
 static int ufstest_dup(FAR void *volinfo, FAR void *oldinfo,
-                       FAR void *newinfo)
+                       FAR void **newinfo)
 {
-  memcpy(newinfo, oldinfo, sizeof(struct ufstest_openfile_s));
+  FAR struct ufstest_openfile_s *opriv =
+    (FAR struct ufstest_openfile_s *)oldinfo;
+
+  /* Increment the reference count on the open info */
+
+  opriv->crefs++;
+
+  /* And just copy the openinfo reference */
+
+  *newinfo = oldinfo;
   return OK;
 }