diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e4702951c44..857545f9a1f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 
+ * Keep a reference of `tensorflow.SessionOptions` in `AbstractSession` to prevent premature deallocation ([pull #297](https://github.com/bytedeco/javacpp-presets/pull/297))
  * Enable CUDA in `cppbuild.sh` script for TensorFlow ([issue #294](https://github.com/bytedeco/javacpp-presets/issues/294))
  * Bundle `libgomp.so.1` in JAR files of OpenCV for the sake of some Linux distributions ([issue bytedeco/javacv#436](https://github.com/bytedeco/javacv/issues/436))
  * Fix `linux-armhf` and `linux-ppc64le` builds for all presets ([pull #279](https://github.com/bytedeco/javacpp-presets/pull/279))
diff --git a/tensorflow/src/main/java/org/bytedeco/javacpp/helper/tensorflow.java b/tensorflow/src/main/java/org/bytedeco/javacpp/helper/tensorflow.java
index d543da2775b..9d1202bb69d 100644
--- a/tensorflow/src/main/java/org/bytedeco/javacpp/helper/tensorflow.java
+++ b/tensorflow/src/main/java/org/bytedeco/javacpp/helper/tensorflow.java
@@ -212,9 +212,13 @@ public StringArray createStringArray() {
 
     public static abstract class AbstractSession extends Pointer {
         static { Loader.load(); }
+
+        SessionOptions options; // a reference to prevent deallocation
+
         public AbstractSession(Pointer p) { super(p); }
         /** Calls {@link org.bytedeco.javacpp.tensorflow#NewSession(SessionOptions)} and registers a deallocator. */
         public AbstractSession(SessionOptions options) {
+            this.options = options;
             if (NewSession(options, (Session)this).ok() && !isNull()) {
                 deallocator(new DeleteDeallocator((Session)this));
             }