diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/process.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/process.py
index 99ee5326c38..86c291ecc46 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/process.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/process.py
@@ -267,9 +267,15 @@ def _bootstrap(self):
                     sys.stdin = open(os.devnull)
                 except (OSError, ValueError):
                     pass
+            old_process = _current_process
             _current_process = self
-            util._finalizer_registry.clear()
-            util._run_after_forkers()
+            try:
+                util._finalizer_registry.clear()
+                util._run_after_forkers()
+            finally:
+                # delay finalization of the old process object until after
+                # _run_after_forkers() is executed
+                del old_process
             util.info('child process calling self.run()')
             try:
                 self.run()