diff --git a/phpBB/includes/template.php b/phpBB/includes/template.php
index 7d09694e2a..af5c9d3a47 100644
--- a/phpBB/includes/template.php
+++ b/phpBB/includes/template.php
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ class template
 	function destroy()
 	{
 		$this->_tpldata = array('.' => array(0 => array()));
+		$this->_rootref = &$this->_tpldata['.'][0];
 	}
 
 	/**