diff --git a/Python/errors.c b/Python/errors.c
index 00dfd3e..5cbf5c9 100644
--- a/Python/errors.c
+++ b/Python/errors.c
@@ -227,14 +227,11 @@
     tstate = PyThreadState_GET();
     if (++tstate->recursion_depth > Py_GetRecursionLimit()) {
         --tstate->recursion_depth;
-        /* throw away the old exception... */
-        Py_DECREF(*exc);
-        Py_DECREF(*val);
-        /* ... and use the recursion error instead */
-        *exc = PyExc_RuntimeError;
-        *val = PyExc_RecursionErrorInst;
-        Py_INCREF(*exc);
-        Py_INCREF(*val);
+        /* throw away the old exception and use the recursion error instead */
+        Py_INCREF(PyExc_RuntimeError);
+        Py_SETREF(*exc, PyExc_RuntimeError);
+        Py_INCREF(PyExc_RecursionErrorInst);
+        Py_SETREF(*val, PyExc_RecursionErrorInst);
         /* just keeping the old traceback */
         return;
     }