diff --git a/server/core/server.c b/server/core/server.c
index 2026cab91..9577efc3e 100644
--- a/server/core/server.c
+++ b/server/core/server.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ SERVER *ptr;
  * @param	user	The name of the user needing the connection
  */
 DCB *
-server_get_persistent(SERVER *server, char *user, char *protocol)
+server_get_persistent(SERVER *server, char *user, const char *protocol)
 {
     DCB *dcb, *previous;
     int rc;
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ server_get_persistent(SERVER *server, char *user, char *protocol)
                 dcb->user = NULL;
                 spinlock_release(&server->persistlock);
                 atomic_add(&server->stats.n_persistent, -1);
+                atomic_add(&server->stats.n_current, 1);
                 return dcb;
             }
         }
diff --git a/server/include/server.h b/server/include/server.h
index a838053da..f9aaf224b 100644
--- a/server/include/server.h
+++ b/server/include/server.h
@@ -192,6 +192,6 @@ extern void	serverAddParameter(SERVER *, char *, char *);
 extern char	*serverGetParameter(SERVER *, char *);
 extern void	server_update(SERVER *, char *, char *, char *);
 extern void     server_set_unique_name(SERVER *, char *);
-extern DCB      *server_get_persistent(SERVER *, char *, char *);
+extern DCB      *server_get_persistent(SERVER *, char *, const char *);
 extern RESULTSET	*serverGetList();
 #endif