diff --git a/Objects/intobject.c b/Objects/intobject.c
index 47acbff..18624b3 100644
--- a/Objects/intobject.c
+++ b/Objects/intobject.c
@@ -1064,7 +1064,7 @@
 	int ival;
 #if NSMALLNEGINTS + NSMALLPOSINTS > 0
 	for (ival = -NSMALLNEGINTS; ival < NSMALLPOSINTS; ival++) {
-		if ((free_list = fill_free_list()) == NULL)
+              if (!free_list && (free_list = fill_free_list()) == NULL)
 			return 0;
 		/* PyObject_New is inlined */
 		v = free_list;