diff --git a/Python/pythonrun.c b/Python/pythonrun.c
index 4b0ac13..ec69bcb 100644
--- a/Python/pythonrun.c
+++ b/Python/pythonrun.c
@@ -1012,7 +1012,8 @@
         const char * encoding;
         encoding = _PyUnicode_AsString(encoding_attr);
         if (encoding != NULL) {
-            _PyCodec_Lookup(encoding);
+            PyObject *codec_info = _PyCodec_Lookup(encoding);
+            Py_XDECREF(codec_info);
         }
         Py_DECREF(encoding_attr);
     }