diff --git a/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_model.py b/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_model.py
index abbcec9130a..b054fd0e0db 100644
--- a/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_model.py
+++ b/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_model.py
@@ -554,10 +554,14 @@ class ir_model_data(osv.osv):
 
     def __init__(self, pool, cr):
         osv.osv.__init__(self, pool, cr)
-        self.loads = {}
         self.doinit = True
         self.unlink_mark = {}
 
+        # also stored in pool to avoid being discarded along with this osv instance
+        if getattr(pool, 'model_data_reference_ids', None) is None:
+            self.pool.model_data_reference_ids = {}
+        self.loads = self.pool.model_data_reference_ids
+
     def _auto_init(self, cr, context=None):
         super(ir_model_data, self)._auto_init(cr, context)
         cr.execute('SELECT indexname FROM pg_indexes WHERE indexname = \'ir_model_data_module_name_index\'')