diff --git a/Modules/gcmodule.c b/Modules/gcmodule.c
index 19011c4..700c1a3 100644
--- a/Modules/gcmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/gcmodule.c
@@ -771,10 +771,8 @@
  * garbage list (a Python list), else only the objects in finalizers with
  * __del__ methods are appended to garbage.  All objects in finalizers are
  * merged into the old list regardless.
- * Returns 0 if all OK, <0 on error (out of memory to grow the garbage list).
- * The finalizers list is made empty on a successful return.
  */
-static int
+static void
 handle_finalizers(PyGC_Head *finalizers, PyGC_Head *old)
 {
     PyGC_Head *gc = finalizers->gc.gc_next;
@@ -789,12 +787,11 @@
 
         if ((debug & DEBUG_SAVEALL) || has_finalizer(op)) {
             if (PyList_Append(garbage, op) < 0)
-                return -1;
+                break;
         }
     }
 
     gc_list_merge(finalizers, old);
-    return 0;
 }
 
 /* Break reference cycles by clearing the containers involved.  This is
@@ -1012,7 +1009,7 @@
      * reachable list of garbage.  The programmer has to deal with
      * this if they insist on creating this type of structure.
      */
-    (void)handle_finalizers(&finalizers, old);
+    handle_finalizers(&finalizers, old);
 
     /* Clear free list only during the collection of the highest
      * generation */
@@ -1436,8 +1433,11 @@
     if (collecting)
         n = 0; /* already collecting, don't do anything */
     else {
+        PyObject *exc, *value, *tb;
         collecting = 1;
+        PyErr_Fetch(&exc, &value, &tb);
         n = collect(NUM_GENERATIONS - 1);
+        PyErr_Restore(exc, value, tb);
         collecting = 0;
     }