diff --git a/Lib/pdb.py b/Lib/pdb.py
index b11ac0a..4797265 100755
--- a/Lib/pdb.py
+++ b/Lib/pdb.py
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@
 
 class Pdb(bdb.Bdb, cmd.Cmd):
 
+    _previous_sigint_handler = None
+
     def __init__(self, completekey='tab', stdin=None, stdout=None, skip=None,
                  nosigint=False):
         bdb.Bdb.__init__(self, skip=skip)
@@ -187,8 +189,6 @@
         self.message("\nProgram interrupted. (Use 'cont' to resume).")
         self.set_step()
         self.set_trace(frame)
-        # restore previous signal handler
-        signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, self._previous_sigint_handler)
 
     def reset(self):
         bdb.Bdb.reset(self)
@@ -337,6 +337,10 @@
                                  (expr, newvalue, oldvalue))
 
     def interaction(self, frame, traceback):
+        # Restore the previous signal handler at the Pdb prompt.
+        if Pdb._previous_sigint_handler:
+            signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, Pdb._previous_sigint_handler)
+            Pdb._previous_sigint_handler = None
         if self.setup(frame, traceback):
             # no interaction desired at this time (happens if .pdbrc contains
             # a command like "continue")
@@ -1037,7 +1041,7 @@
         """
         if not self.nosigint:
             try:
-                self._previous_sigint_handler = \
+                Pdb._previous_sigint_handler = \
                     signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, self.sigint_handler)
             except ValueError:
                 # ValueError happens when do_continue() is invoked from
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_pdb.py b/Lib/test/test_pdb.py
index 45ba5a9..66a7b55 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_pdb.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_pdb.py
@@ -911,6 +911,29 @@
     (Pdb) continue
     """
 
+def test_pdb_issue_20766():
+    """Test for reference leaks when the SIGINT handler is set.
+
+    >>> def test_function():
+    ...     i = 1
+    ...     while i <= 2:
+    ...         sess = pdb.Pdb()
+    ...         sess.set_trace(sys._getframe())
+    ...         print('pdb %d: %s' % (i, sess._previous_sigint_handler))
+    ...         i += 1
+
+    >>> with PdbTestInput(['continue',
+    ...                    'continue']):
+    ...     test_function()
+    > <doctest test.test_pdb.test_pdb_issue_20766[0]>(6)test_function()
+    -> print('pdb %d: %s' % (i, sess._previous_sigint_handler))
+    (Pdb) continue
+    pdb 1: <built-in function default_int_handler>
+    > <doctest test.test_pdb.test_pdb_issue_20766[0]>(5)test_function()
+    -> sess.set_trace(sys._getframe())
+    (Pdb) continue
+    pdb 2: <built-in function default_int_handler>
+    """
 
 class PdbTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 44e63d4..28a7d94 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #20766: Fix references leaked by pdb in the handling of SIGINT
+  handlers.
+
 - Issue #26293: Fixed writing ZIP files that starts not from the start of the
   file.  Offsets in ZIP file now are relative to the start of the archive in
   conforming to the specification.