Index: System.Data.SQLite/SQLite3.cs
==================================================================
--- System.Data.SQLite/SQLite3.cs
+++ System.Data.SQLite/SQLite3.cs
@@ -281,10 +281,11 @@
       }
       // Bind functions to this connection.  If any previous functions of the same name
       // were already bound, then the new bindings replace the old.
       _functionsArray = SQLiteFunction.BindFunctions(this, connectionFlags);
       SetTimeout(0);
+      GC.KeepAlive(_sql);
     }
 
     internal override void ClearPool()
     {
       SQLiteConnectionPool.ClearPool(_fileName);

Index: System.Data.SQLite/SQLite3_UTF16.cs
==================================================================
--- System.Data.SQLite/SQLite3_UTF16.cs
+++ System.Data.SQLite/SQLite3_UTF16.cs
@@ -125,11 +125,12 @@
 
         _sql = new SQLiteConnectionHandle(db);
         lock (_sql) { /* HACK: Force the SyncBlock to be "created" now. */ }
       }
       _functionsArray = SQLiteFunction.BindFunctions(this, connectionFlags);
-      SetTimeout(0);
+      SetTimeout(0);
+      GC.KeepAlive(_sql);
     }
 
     internal override void Bind_DateTime(SQLiteStatement stmt, SQLiteConnectionFlags flags, int index, DateTime dt)
     {
         switch (_datetimeFormat)