diff --git a/Modules/_operator.c b/Modules/_operator.c
index dc678209ad3..3bf8c1276d7 100644
--- a/Modules/_operator.c
+++ b/Modules/_operator.c
@@ -1583,6 +1583,7 @@ methodcaller_repr(methodcallerobject *mc)
                 goto done;
             if (i >= numtotalargs) {
                 i = -1;
+                Py_DECREF(onerepr);
                 break;
             }
             PyTuple_SET_ITEM(argreprs, i, onerepr);