diff --git a/library/include/DebugManager.h b/library/include/DebugManager.h
index d910efd4ad..94cce64202 100644
--- a/library/include/DebugManager.h
+++ b/library/include/DebugManager.h
@@ -96,8 +96,11 @@ class DFHACK_EXPORT DebugManager : public std::vector<DebugCategory*> {
 
     //! Get the singleton object
     static DebugManager& getInstance() {
-        static DebugManager instance;
-        return instance;
+    // Plugins may still hold pointers to DebugManager's instance during shutdown.
+    // If DebugManager's dtor runs first, use-after-free may ensue.
+    // Intentionally leak to avoid this issue.
+        static DebugManager* instance = new DebugManager();
+        return *instance;
     }
 
     // don't bother to protect these with mutexes. we don't want to pay the