diff --git a/Lib/test/test_scope.py b/Lib/test/test_scope.py
index db88dbd5130..cd2d98c075c 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_scope.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_scope.py
@@ -597,6 +597,24 @@ self.assert_(X.passed)
 
         f(4)()
 
+    def testFreeingCell(self):
+        # Test what happens when a finalizer accesses
+        # the cell where the object was stored.
+        class Special:
+            def __del__(self):
+                nestedcell_get()
+
+        def f():
+            global nestedcell_get
+            def nestedcell_get():
+                return c
+
+            c = (Special(),)
+            c = 2
+
+        f() # used to crash the interpreter...
+
+
 
 def test_main():
     run_unittest(ScopeTests)
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 74466d69143..c8c4a0347c6 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ What's New in Python 2.6 alpha 1?
 Core and builtins
 -----------------
 
+- Fixed several potential crashes, all caused by specially crafted __del__
+  methods exploiting objects in temporarily inconsistent state.
+
 - Issue #2115: Important speedup in setting __slot__ attributes.  Also 
   prevent a possible crash: an Abstract Base Class would try to access a slot 
   on a registered virtual subclass.
diff --git a/Objects/cellobject.c b/Objects/cellobject.c
index dc684d5b671..b72d43be67c 100644
--- a/Objects/cellobject.c
+++ b/Objects/cellobject.c
@@ -31,13 +31,15 @@ PyCell_Get(PyObject *op)
 int
 PyCell_Set(PyObject *op, PyObject *obj)
 {
+	PyObject* oldobj;
 	if (!PyCell_Check(op)) {
 		PyErr_BadInternalCall();
 		return -1;
 	}
-	Py_XDECREF(((PyCellObject*)op)->ob_ref);
+	oldobj = PyCell_GET(op);
 	Py_XINCREF(obj);
 	PyCell_SET(op, obj);
+	Py_XDECREF(oldobj);
 	return 0;
 }