diff --git a/src/jid.erl b/src/jid.erl
index 0c3ac77c0..46830d031 100644
--- a/src/jid.erl
+++ b/src/jid.erl
@@ -50,11 +50,22 @@
 -spec start() -> ok.
 
 start() ->
+    Owner = spawn(fun() -> ets_keepalive() end),
     SplitPattern = binary:compile_pattern([<<"@">>, <<"/">>]),
-    catch ets:new(jlib, [named_table, protected, set, {keypos, 1}]),
+    %% Table is public to allow ETS insert to fix / update the table even if table already exist
+    %% with another owner.
+    catch ets:new(jlib, [named_table, public, set, {keypos, 1}, {heir, Owner, undefined}]),
     ets:insert(jlib, {string_to_jid_pattern, SplitPattern}),
     ok.
 
+%% Process used to keep jlib ETS table alive in case the original owner dies.
+%% The table need to be public, otherwise subsequent inserts would fail.
+ets_keepalive() ->
+    receive
+        _ ->
+            ets_keepalive()
+    end.
+
 -spec make(binary(), binary(), binary()) -> jid() | error.
 
 make(User, Server, Resource) ->