diff --git a/Python/marshal.c b/Python/marshal.c
index f3d7b5cb4d4..916faa77e4b 100644
--- a/Python/marshal.c
+++ b/Python/marshal.c
@@ -468,6 +468,7 @@ r_object(p)
 			XDECREF(code);
 			XDECREF(consts);
 			XDECREF(names);
+			XDECREF(varnames);
 			XDECREF(filename);
 			XDECREF(name);