diff --git a/Python/sysmodule.c b/Python/sysmodule.c
index 5a066a5..a7a5933 100644
--- a/Python/sysmodule.c
+++ b/Python/sysmodule.c
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@
 {
 	PyThreadState *tstate = PyThreadState_Get();
 	PyObject *sd = tstate->interp->sysdict;
+	if (sd == NULL)
+		return NULL;
 	return PyDict_GetItemString(sd, name);
 }