diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/queues.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/queues.py
index 37271fb..f6f02b6 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/queues.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/queues.py
@@ -243,10 +243,14 @@
 
                         if wacquire is None:
                             send(obj)
+                            # Delete references to object. See issue16284
+                            del obj
                         else:
                             wacquire()
                             try:
                                 send(obj)
+                                # Delete references to object. See issue16284
+                                del obj
                             finally:
                                 wrelease()
                 except IndexError: