diff --git a/Modules/_datetimemodule.c b/Modules/_datetimemodule.c
index 77caba1ddce..7b0da79a701 100644
--- a/Modules/_datetimemodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_datetimemodule.c
@@ -1409,6 +1409,7 @@ build_struct_time(int y, int m, int d, int hh, int mm, int ss, int dstflag)
     result = _PyObject_CallMethodIdObjArgs(time, &PyId_struct_time,
                                            args, NULL);
     Py_DECREF(time);
+    Py_DECREF(args);
     return result;
 }