diff --git a/Lib/test/test_descr.py b/Lib/test/test_descr.py
index d64af69dbfb..45fd05dd4ba 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_descr.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_descr.py
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import builtins
+import gc
 import sys
 import types
 import math
 import unittest
+import weakref
 
 from copy import deepcopy
 from test import support
@@ -1186,7 +1188,6 @@ order (MRO) for bases """
         self.assertEqual(Counted.counter, 0)
 
         # Test lookup leaks [SF bug 572567]
-        import gc
         if hasattr(gc, 'get_objects'):
             class G(object):
                 def __eq__(self, other):
@@ -4387,7 +4388,6 @@ order (MRO) for bases """
         self.assertRaises(AttributeError, getattr, C(), "attr")
         self.assertEqual(descr.counter, 4)
 
-        import gc
         class EvilGetattribute(object):
             # This used to segfault
             def __getattr__(self, name):
@@ -4484,6 +4484,21 @@ order (MRO) for bases """
         ns = {'__qualname__': 1}
         self.assertRaises(TypeError, type, 'Foo', (), ns)
 
+    def test_cycle_through_dict(self):
+        # See bug #1469629
+        class X(dict):
+            def __init__(self):
+                dict.__init__(self)
+                self.__dict__ = self
+        x = X()
+        x.attr = 42
+        wr = weakref.ref(x)
+        del x
+        support.gc_collect()
+        self.assertIsNone(wr())
+        for o in gc.get_objects():
+            self.assertIsNot(type(o), X)
+
 
 class DictProxyTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index a8769afe9db..451b803b671 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ What's New in Python 3.3.0 Alpha 2?
 Core and Builtins
 -----------------
 
+- Issue #1469629: Allow cycles through an object's __dict__ slot to be
+  collected. (For example if ``x.__dict__ is x``).
+
 - Issue #14205: dict lookup raises a RuntimeError if the dict is modified
   during a lookup.
 
diff --git a/Objects/typeobject.c b/Objects/typeobject.c
index 50b97236004..dae7ff8d9a7 100644
--- a/Objects/typeobject.c
+++ b/Objects/typeobject.c
@@ -862,8 +862,13 @@ subtype_clear(PyObject *self)
         assert(base);
     }
 
-    /* There's no need to clear the instance dict (if any);
-       the collector will call its tp_clear handler. */
+    /* Clear the instance dict (if any), to break cycles involving only
+       __dict__ slots (as in the case 'self.__dict__ is self'). */
+    if (type->tp_dictoffset != base->tp_dictoffset) {
+        PyObject **dictptr = _PyObject_GetDictPtr(self);
+        if (dictptr && *dictptr)
+            Py_CLEAR(*dictptr);
+    }
 
     if (baseclear)
         return baseclear(self);