diff --git a/src/vlib/counter.c b/src/vlib/counter.c
index 62f4bd6..29cd004 100644
--- a/src/vlib/counter.c
+++ b/src/vlib/counter.c
@@ -74,15 +74,32 @@
     }
 }
 
+void *vlib_stats_push_heap (void) __attribute__ ((weak));
+void *
+vlib_stats_push_heap (void)
+{
+  return 0;
+};
+
+void vlib_stats_pop_heap (void *, void *) __attribute__ ((weak));
+void
+vlib_stats_pop_heap (void *notused, void *notused2)
+{
+};
+
+
 void
 vlib_validate_simple_counter (vlib_simple_counter_main_t * cm, u32 index)
 {
   vlib_thread_main_t *tm = vlib_get_thread_main ();
   int i;
+  void *oldheap = vlib_stats_push_heap ();
 
   vec_validate (cm->counters, tm->n_vlib_mains - 1);
   for (i = 0; i < tm->n_vlib_mains; i++)
     vec_validate_aligned (cm->counters[i], index, CLIB_CACHE_LINE_BYTES);
+
+  vlib_stats_pop_heap (cm, oldheap);
 }
 
 void
@@ -90,10 +107,13 @@
 {
   vlib_thread_main_t *tm = vlib_get_thread_main ();
   int i;
+  void *oldheap = vlib_stats_push_heap ();
 
   vec_validate (cm->counters, tm->n_vlib_mains - 1);
   for (i = 0; i < tm->n_vlib_mains; i++)
     vec_validate_aligned (cm->counters[i], index, CLIB_CACHE_LINE_BYTES);
+
+  vlib_stats_pop_heap (cm, oldheap);
 }
 
 u32