diff --git a/Python/bltinmodule.c b/Python/bltinmodule.c
index 8390b7b..144a62f 100644
--- a/Python/bltinmodule.c
+++ b/Python/bltinmodule.c
@@ -619,7 +619,9 @@
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	result = PyObject_GetAttr(v, name);
-	if (result == NULL && dflt != NULL) {
+	if (result == NULL && dflt != NULL &&
+	    PyErr_ExceptionMatches(PyExc_AttributeError))
+	{
 		PyErr_Clear();
 		Py_INCREF(dflt);
 		result = dflt;