diff --git a/src/codegen/c_backend.rs b/src/codegen/c_backend.rs
index 25a5399..d8ee8ec 100644
--- a/src/codegen/c_backend.rs
+++ b/src/codegen/c_backend.rs
@@ -1748,7 +1748,21 @@ impl CBackend {
                     let left_is_string = self.is_string_expr(left);
                     let right_is_string = self.is_string_expr(right);
                     if left_is_string || right_is_string {
-                        return Ok(format!("lux_string_concat({}, {})", l, r));
+                        // String concat returns RC-managed string - track it
+                        let temp = format!("_str_concat_{}", self.fresh_name());
+                        self.writeln(&format!("LuxString {} = lux_string_concat({}, {});", temp, l, r));
+                        self.register_rc_var(&temp, "LuxString");
+                        // Also need to decref any temporary strings used as inputs
+                        // (toString results, nested concats)
+                        if self.is_rc_temp(&l) {
+                            self.writeln(&format!("lux_decref_string({});", l));
+                            self.unregister_rc_var(&l);
+                        }
+                        if self.is_rc_temp(&r) {
+                            self.writeln(&format!("lux_decref_string({});", r));
+                            self.unregister_rc_var(&r);
+                        }
+                        return Ok(temp);
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -1856,9 +1870,12 @@ impl CBackend {
                 // Check for built-in functions like toString
                 if let Expr::Var(ident) = func.as_ref() {
                     if ident.name == "toString" {
-                        // toString converts Int to String
+                        // toString converts Int to String - returns RC-managed string
                         let arg = self.emit_expr(&args[0])?;
-                        return Ok(format!("lux_int_to_string({})", arg));
+                        let temp = format!("_to_string_{}", self.fresh_name());
+                        self.writeln(&format!("LuxString {} = lux_int_to_string({});", temp, arg));
+                        self.register_rc_var(&temp, "LuxString");
+                        return Ok(temp);
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -3293,6 +3310,11 @@ impl CBackend {
         self.rc_scopes.iter().any(|scope| scope.iter().any(|var| var.name == name))
     }
 
+    /// Check if a value is a temporary RC variable (starts with _ and is tracked)
+    fn is_rc_temp(&self, name: &str) -> bool {
+        name.starts_with("_") && self.is_rc_tracked(name)
+    }
+
     /// Remove a variable from RC tracking (for ownership transfer)
     fn unregister_rc_var(&mut self, name: &str) {
         for scope in self.rc_scopes.iter_mut() {