diff --git a/Python/symtable.c b/Python/symtable.c
index 51b59f0310d..f0f1d4d07dc 100644
--- a/Python/symtable.c
+++ b/Python/symtable.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ ste_new(struct symtable *st, identifier name, _Py_block_ty block,
               void *key, int lineno)
 {
     PySTEntryObject *ste = NULL;
-    PyObject *k;
+    PyObject *k = NULL;
 
     k = PyLong_FromVoidPtr(key);
     if (k == NULL)
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ ste_new(struct symtable *st, identifier name, _Py_block_ty block,
 
     return ste;
  fail:
+    Py_XDECREF(k);
     Py_XDECREF(ste);
     return NULL;
 }