diff --git a/Lib/test/test_import/__init__.py b/Lib/test/test_import/__init__.py
index f2726da203e..e0e2354ae2f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_import/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_import/__init__.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import types
 import unittest
 from unittest import mock
 import _testinternalcapi
+import _imp
 
 from test.support import os_helper
 from test.support import (
@@ -763,6 +764,13 @@ class ImportTests(unittest.TestCase):
                                     env=env,
                                     cwd=os.path.dirname(pyexe))
 
+    def test_issue105979(self):
+        # this used to crash
+        with self.assertRaises(ImportError) as cm:
+            _imp.get_frozen_object("x", b"6\'\xd5Cu\x12")
+        self.assertIn("Frozen object named 'x' is invalid",
+                      str(cm.exception))
+
 
 @skip_if_dont_write_bytecode
 class FilePermissionTests(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core and Builtins/2023-06-22-19-16-24.gh-issue-105979.TDP2CU.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core and Builtins/2023-06-22-19-16-24.gh-issue-105979.TDP2CU.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..be6962afd0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core and Builtins/2023-06-22-19-16-24.gh-issue-105979.TDP2CU.rst	
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix crash in :func:`!_imp.get_frozen_object` due to improper exception handling.
diff --git a/Python/import.c b/Python/import.c
index 969902afea1..9b1ad87b84f 100644
--- a/Python/import.c
+++ b/Python/import.c
@@ -2071,6 +2071,7 @@ unmarshal_frozen_code(PyInterpreterState *interp, struct frozen_info *info)
     PyObject *co = PyMarshal_ReadObjectFromString(info->data, info->size);
     if (co == NULL) {
         /* Does not contain executable code. */
+        PyErr_Clear();
         set_frozen_error(FROZEN_INVALID, info->nameobj);
         return NULL;
     }