diff --git a/Lib/test/test_hashlib.py b/Lib/test/test_hashlib.py
index 855ecbf..95bf0b3 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_hashlib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_hashlib.py
@@ -108,12 +108,8 @@
                                                 _algo.islower()]))
 
     def test_unknown_hash(self):
-        try:
-            hashlib.new('spam spam spam spam spam')
-        except ValueError:
-            pass
-        else:
-            self.assertTrue(0 == "hashlib didn't reject bogus hash name")
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, hashlib.new, 'spam spam spam spam spam')
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, hashlib.new, 1)
 
     def test_get_builtin_constructor(self):
         get_builtin_constructor = hashlib.__dict__[
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index aa41678..09ea7e3 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #15219: Fix a reference leak when hashlib.new() is called with
+  invalid parameters.
+
 - Issue #9559: If messages were only added, a new file is no longer
   created and renamed over the old file when flush() is called on an
   mbox, MMDF or Babyl mailbox.
diff --git a/Modules/_hashopenssl.c b/Modules/_hashopenssl.c
index aa9dd4e..7f016d4 100644
--- a/Modules/_hashopenssl.c
+++ b/Modules/_hashopenssl.c
@@ -477,6 +477,7 @@
     }
 
     if (!PyArg_Parse(name_obj, "s", &name)) {
+        PyBuffer_Release(&view);
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "name must be a string");
         return NULL;
     }