diff --git a/Python/pythonrun.c b/Python/pythonrun.c
index 6fa85ac..bb5e482 100644
--- a/Python/pythonrun.c
+++ b/Python/pythonrun.c
@@ -1201,6 +1201,7 @@
 		break;
 	}
 	w = Py_BuildValue("(sO)", msg, v);
+	Py_XDECREF(v);
 	PyErr_SetObject(errtype, w);
 	Py_XDECREF(w);
 }