diff --git a/Modules/_cursesmodule.c b/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
index c9ee5687c2b..631fc23dcdb 100644
--- a/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
@@ -4036,7 +4036,7 @@ update_lines_cols(PyObject *private_module)
 
 error:
     Py_XDECREF(o);
-    Py_DECREF(exposed_module);
+    Py_XDECREF(exposed_module);
     return 0;
 }