diff --git a/Objects/dictobject.c b/Objects/dictobject.c
index 4afa19c..87f88ab 100644
--- a/Objects/dictobject.c
+++ b/Objects/dictobject.c
@@ -2777,9 +2777,11 @@
                     return -1;
                 return 0;
             }
+            Py_INCREF(bval);
             cmp = PyObject_RichCompareBool(aval, bval, Py_EQ);
             Py_DECREF(key);
             Py_DECREF(aval);
+            Py_DECREF(bval);
             if (cmp <= 0)  /* error or not equal */
                 return cmp;
         }