diff --git a/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_expr.cc b/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_expr.cc
index b86d745db..28b8922ce 100644
--- a/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_expr.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_expr.cc
@@ -181,6 +181,15 @@ nix_err nix_gc_decref(nix_c_context * context, const void *)
 void nix_gc_now() {}
 #endif
 
+nix_err nix_value_incref(nix_c_context * context, nix_value *x)
+{
+    return nix_gc_incref(context, (const void *) x);
+}
+nix_err nix_value_decref(nix_c_context * context, nix_value *x)
+{
+    return nix_gc_decref(context, (const void *) x);
+}
+
 void nix_gc_register_finalizer(void * obj, void * cd, void (*finalizer)(void * obj, void * cd))
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_BOEHMGC
diff --git a/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_expr.h b/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_expr.h
index 140da9e52..ce00246c6 100644
--- a/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_expr.h
+++ b/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_expr.h
@@ -189,6 +189,11 @@ void nix_state_free(EvalState * state);
  * you're done with a value returned by the evaluator.
  * @{
  */
+
+// TODO: Deprecate nix_gc_incref in favor of the type-specific reference counting functions?
+//       e.g. nix_value_incref.
+//       It gives implementors more flexibility, and adds safety, so that generated
+//       bindings can be used without fighting the host type system (where applicable).
 /**
  * @brief Increment the garbage collector reference counter for the given object.
  *
diff --git a/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_value.h b/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_value.h
index acc4a1969..26044bd57 100644
--- a/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_value.h
+++ b/src/libexpr-c/nix_api_value.h
@@ -147,6 +147,25 @@ nix_err nix_register_primop(nix_c_context * context, PrimOp * primOp);
  */
 Value * nix_alloc_value(nix_c_context * context, EvalState * state);
 
+/**
+ * @brief Increment the garbage collector reference counter for the given `nix_value`.
+ *
+ * The Nix language evaluator C API keeps track of alive objects by reference counting.
+ * When you're done with a refcounted pointer, call nix_value_decref().
+ *
+ * @param[out] context Optional, stores error information
+ * @param[in] value The object to keep alive
+ */
+nix_err nix_value_incref(nix_c_context * context, nix_value * value);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Decrement the garbage collector reference counter for the given object
+ *
+ * @param[out] context Optional, stores error information
+ * @param[in] value The object to stop referencing
+ */
+nix_err nix_value_decref(nix_c_context * context, nix_value * value);
+
 /** @addtogroup value_manip Manipulating values
  * @brief Functions to inspect and change Nix language values, represented by Value.
  * @{