diff --git a/Objects/exceptions.c b/Objects/exceptions.c
index e01d6cfa196..0651d1d577c 100644
--- a/Objects/exceptions.c
+++ b/Objects/exceptions.c
@@ -2127,7 +2127,6 @@ _PyExc_Init(void)
         }
     }
 
-    Py_DECREF(bltinmod);
 }
 
 void