diff --git a/Objects/bytesobject.c b/Objects/bytesobject.c
index 3a922d3..836a736 100644
--- a/Objects/bytesobject.c
+++ b/Objects/bytesobject.c
@@ -3139,7 +3139,6 @@
 striter_next(striterobject *it)
 {
     PyBytesObject *seq;
-    PyObject *item;
 
     assert(it != NULL);
     seq = it->it_seq;
@@ -3148,11 +3147,8 @@
     assert(PyBytes_Check(seq));
 
     if (it->it_index < PyBytes_GET_SIZE(seq)) {
-        item = PyLong_FromLong(
-            (unsigned char)seq->ob_sval[it->it_index]);
-        if (item != NULL)
-            ++it->it_index;
-        return item;
+        return PyLong_FromLong(
+            (unsigned char)seq->ob_sval[it->it_index++]);
     }
 
     it->it_seq = NULL;