diff --git a/Modules/_zoneinfo.c b/Modules/_zoneinfo.c
index 4a4cbdbee38..d0c462fb86a 100644
--- a/Modules/_zoneinfo.c
+++ b/Modules/_zoneinfo.c
@@ -2629,6 +2629,9 @@ static int
 zoneinfomodule_exec(PyObject *m)
 {
     PyDateTime_IMPORT;
+    if (PyDateTimeAPI == NULL) {
+        goto error;
+    }
     PyZoneInfo_ZoneInfoType.tp_base = PyDateTimeAPI->TZInfoType;
     if (PyType_Ready(&PyZoneInfo_ZoneInfoType) < 0) {
         goto error;