diff --git a/Objects/object.c b/Objects/object.c
index 61954798c76..ab9d4ed41df 100644
--- a/Objects/object.c
+++ b/Objects/object.c
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ get_inprogress_dict()
 		    Py_DECREF(inprogress);
 		    return NULL;
 		}
+		Py_DECREF(inprogress);
 	}
 	return inprogress;
 }