diff --git a/Include/ceval.h b/Include/ceval.h
index 9c6d420bc23..11283c0a570 100644
--- a/Include/ceval.h
+++ b/Include/ceval.h
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ PyAPI_FUNC(Py_ssize_t) _PyEval_RequestCodeExtraIndex(freefunc);
 #ifndef Py_LIMITED_API
 PyAPI_FUNC(int) _PyEval_SliceIndex(PyObject *, Py_ssize_t *);
 PyAPI_FUNC(int) _PyEval_SliceIndexNotNone(PyObject *, Py_ssize_t *);
-PyAPI_FUNC(void) _PyEval_SignalAsyncExc(PyInterpreterState *);
+PyAPI_FUNC(void) _PyEval_SignalAsyncExc(void);
 #endif
 
 /* Masks and values used by FORMAT_VALUE opcode. */
diff --git a/Include/internal/pycore_ceval.h b/Include/internal/pycore_ceval.h
index 1bdcdf527af..2ead96c7abe 100644
--- a/Include/internal/pycore_ceval.h
+++ b/Include/internal/pycore_ceval.h
@@ -11,11 +11,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "pycore_atomic.h"
 #include "pythread.h"
 
-struct _is;  // See PyInterpreterState in cpython/pystate.h.
-
-PyAPI_FUNC(int) _Py_AddPendingCall(struct _is*, unsigned long, int (*)(void *), void *);
-PyAPI_FUNC(int) _Py_MakePendingCalls(struct _is*);
-PyAPI_FUNC(void) _Py_FinishPendingCalls(struct _is*);
+PyAPI_FUNC(void) _Py_FinishPendingCalls(void);
 
 struct _pending_calls {
     int finishing;
@@ -28,7 +24,6 @@ struct _pending_calls {
     int async_exc;
 #define NPENDINGCALLS 32
     struct {
-        unsigned long thread_id;
         int (*func)(void *);
         void *arg;
     } calls[NPENDINGCALLS];
@@ -36,13 +31,6 @@ struct _pending_calls {
     int last;
 };
 
-struct _ceval_interpreter_state {
-    /* This single variable consolidates all requests to break out of
-       the fast path in the eval loop. */
-    _Py_atomic_int eval_breaker;
-    struct _pending_calls pending;
-};
-
 #include "pycore_gil.h"
 
 struct _ceval_runtime_state {
@@ -53,8 +41,12 @@ struct _ceval_runtime_state {
        c_tracefunc.  This speeds up the if statement in
        PyEval_EvalFrameEx() after fast_next_opcode. */
     int tracing_possible;
+    /* This single variable consolidates all requests to break out of
+       the fast path in the eval loop. */
+    _Py_atomic_int eval_breaker;
     /* Request for dropping the GIL */
     _Py_atomic_int gil_drop_request;
+    struct _pending_calls pending;
     /* Request for checking signals. */
     _Py_atomic_int signals_pending;
     struct _gil_runtime_state gil;
diff --git a/Include/internal/pycore_pystate.h b/Include/internal/pycore_pystate.h
index 3ae2e0c6048..df3730f8014 100644
--- a/Include/internal/pycore_pystate.h
+++ b/Include/internal/pycore_pystate.h
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "pystate.h"
 #include "pythread.h"
 
-#include "pycore_atomic.h"
 #include "pycore_ceval.h"
 #include "pycore_pathconfig.h"
 #include "pycore_pymem.h"
@@ -84,8 +83,6 @@ struct _is {
     PyObject *pyexitmodule;
 
     uint64_t tstate_next_unique_id;
-
-    struct _ceval_interpreter_state ceval;
 };
 
 PyAPI_FUNC(struct _is*) _PyInterpreterState_LookUpID(PY_INT64_T);
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_capi.py b/Lib/test/test_capi.py
index 02ae54804f5..33c98ac28bc 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_capi.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_capi.py
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ class TestPendingCalls(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_pendingcalls_threaded(self):
 
         #do every callback on a separate thread
-        n = 32 #total callbacks (see NPENDINGCALLS in pycore_ceval.h)
+        n = 32 #total callbacks
         threads = []
         class foo(object):pass
         context = foo()
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core and Builtins/2018-09-15-12-13-46.bpo-33608.avmvVP.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core and Builtins/2018-09-15-12-13-46.bpo-33608.avmvVP.rst
deleted file mode 100644
index 73a01a1f46b..00000000000
--- a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core and Builtins/2018-09-15-12-13-46.bpo-33608.avmvVP.rst	
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-We added a new internal _Py_AddPendingCall() that operates relative to the
-provided interpreter.  This allows us to use the existing implementation to
-ask another interpreter to do work that cannot be done in the current
-interpreter, like decref an object the other interpreter owns.  The existing
-Py_AddPendingCall() only operates relative to the main interpreter.
diff --git a/Modules/_testcapimodule.c b/Modules/_testcapimodule.c
index 71356fbac31..1180b4b176e 100644
--- a/Modules/_testcapimodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_testcapimodule.c
@@ -2445,7 +2445,6 @@ pending_threadfunc(PyObject *self, PyObject *arg)
     Py_INCREF(callable);
 
     Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS
-    /* XXX Use the internal _Py_AddPendingCall(). */
     r = Py_AddPendingCall(&_pending_callback, callable);
     Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS
 
diff --git a/Modules/signalmodule.c b/Modules/signalmodule.c
index 962174dda94..4590017c170 100644
--- a/Modules/signalmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/signalmodule.c
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 #include <process.h>
 #endif
 #endif
-#include "internal/pycore_pystate.h"
 
 #ifdef HAVE_SIGNAL_H
 #include <signal.h>
@@ -296,10 +295,8 @@ trip_signal(int sig_num)
                 {
                     /* Py_AddPendingCall() isn't signal-safe, but we
                        still use it for this exceptional case. */
-                    _Py_AddPendingCall(_PyRuntime.interpreters.main,
-                                       main_thread,
-                                       report_wakeup_send_error,
-                                       (void *)(intptr_t) last_error);
+                    Py_AddPendingCall(report_wakeup_send_error,
+                                      (void *)(intptr_t) last_error);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -316,10 +313,8 @@ trip_signal(int sig_num)
                 {
                     /* Py_AddPendingCall() isn't signal-safe, but we
                        still use it for this exceptional case. */
-                    _Py_AddPendingCall(_PyRuntime.interpreters.main,
-                                       main_thread,
-                                       report_wakeup_write_error,
-                                       (void *)(intptr_t)errno);
+                    Py_AddPendingCall(report_wakeup_write_error,
+                                      (void *)(intptr_t)errno);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/Python/ceval.c b/Python/ceval.c
index b2fa20d6168..28e923219d3 100644
--- a/Python/ceval.c
+++ b/Python/ceval.c
@@ -96,61 +96,61 @@ static long dxp[256];
 /* This can set eval_breaker to 0 even though gil_drop_request became
    1.  We believe this is all right because the eval loop will release
    the GIL eventually anyway. */
-#define COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(interp) \
+#define COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER() \
     _Py_atomic_store_relaxed( \
-        &interp->ceval.eval_breaker, \
+        &_PyRuntime.ceval.eval_breaker, \
         GIL_REQUEST | \
         _Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.signals_pending) | \
-        _Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&interp->ceval.pending.calls_to_do) | \
-        interp->ceval.pending.async_exc)
+        _Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.pending.calls_to_do) | \
+        _PyRuntime.ceval.pending.async_exc)
 
-#define SET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST(interp) \
+#define SET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST() \
     do { \
         _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.gil_drop_request, 1); \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&interp->ceval.eval_breaker, 1); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.eval_breaker, 1); \
     } while (0)
 
-#define RESET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST(interp) \
+#define RESET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST() \
     do { \
         _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.gil_drop_request, 0); \
-        COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(interp); \
+        COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(); \
     } while (0)
 
 /* Pending calls are only modified under pending_lock */
-#define SIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS(interp) \
+#define SIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS() \
     do { \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&interp->ceval.pending.calls_to_do, 1); \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&interp->ceval.eval_breaker, 1); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.pending.calls_to_do, 1); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.eval_breaker, 1); \
     } while (0)
 
-#define UNSIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS(interp) \
+#define UNSIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS() \
     do { \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&interp->ceval.pending.calls_to_do, 0); \
-        COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(interp); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.pending.calls_to_do, 0); \
+        COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(); \
     } while (0)
 
 #define SIGNAL_PENDING_SIGNALS() \
     do { \
         _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.signals_pending, 1); \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.interpreters.main->ceval.eval_breaker, 1); \
+        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.eval_breaker, 1); \
     } while (0)
 
 #define UNSIGNAL_PENDING_SIGNALS() \
     do { \
         _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.signals_pending, 0); \
-        COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(_PyRuntime.interpreters.main); \
+        COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(); \
     } while (0)
 
-#define SIGNAL_ASYNC_EXC(interp) \
+#define SIGNAL_ASYNC_EXC() \
     do { \
-        interp->ceval.pending.async_exc = 1; \
-        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&interp->ceval.eval_breaker, 1); \
+        _PyRuntime.ceval.pending.async_exc = 1; \
+        _Py_atomic_store_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.eval_breaker, 1); \
     } while (0)
 
-#define UNSIGNAL_ASYNC_EXC(interp) \
+#define UNSIGNAL_ASYNC_EXC() \
     do { \
-        interp->ceval.pending.async_exc = 0; \
-        COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(interp); \
+        _PyRuntime.ceval.pending.async_exc = 0; \
+        COMPUTE_EVAL_BREAKER(); \
     } while (0)
 
 
@@ -177,7 +177,10 @@ PyEval_InitThreads(void)
     create_gil();
     take_gil(_PyThreadState_GET());
 
-    // The pending calls mutex is initialized in PyInterpreterState_New().
+    _PyRuntime.ceval.pending.lock = PyThread_allocate_lock();
+    if (_PyRuntime.ceval.pending.lock == NULL) {
+        Py_FatalError("Can't initialize threads for pending calls");
+    }
 }
 
 void
@@ -189,6 +192,11 @@ _PyEval_FiniThreads(void)
 
     destroy_gil();
     assert(!gil_created());
+
+    if (_PyRuntime.ceval.pending.lock != NULL) {
+        PyThread_free_lock(_PyRuntime.ceval.pending.lock);
+        _PyRuntime.ceval.pending.lock = NULL;
+    }
 }
 
 void
@@ -248,10 +256,8 @@ PyEval_ReInitThreads(void)
     recreate_gil();
     take_gil(current_tstate);
 
-    // Only the main interpreter remains, so ignore the rest.
-    PyInterpreterState *interp = _PyRuntime.interpreters.main;
-    interp->ceval.pending.lock = PyThread_allocate_lock();
-    if (interp->ceval.pending.lock == NULL) {
+    _PyRuntime.ceval.pending.lock = PyThread_allocate_lock();
+    if (_PyRuntime.ceval.pending.lock == NULL) {
         Py_FatalError("Can't initialize threads for pending calls");
     }
 
@@ -263,9 +269,9 @@ PyEval_ReInitThreads(void)
    raised. */
 
 void
-_PyEval_SignalAsyncExc(PyInterpreterState *interp)
+_PyEval_SignalAsyncExc(void)
 {
-    SIGNAL_ASYNC_EXC(interp);
+    SIGNAL_ASYNC_EXC();
 }
 
 PyThreadState *
@@ -333,7 +339,7 @@ _PyEval_SignalReceived(void)
 
 /* Push one item onto the queue while holding the lock. */
 static int
-_push_pending_call(struct _pending_calls *pending, unsigned long thread_id,
+_push_pending_call(struct _pending_calls *pending,
                    int (*func)(void *), void *arg)
 {
     int i = pending->last;
@@ -341,7 +347,6 @@ _push_pending_call(struct _pending_calls *pending, unsigned long thread_id,
     if (j == pending->first) {
         return -1; /* Queue full */
     }
-    pending->calls[i].thread_id = thread_id;
     pending->calls[i].func = func;
     pending->calls[i].arg = arg;
     pending->last = j;
@@ -350,7 +355,7 @@ _push_pending_call(struct _pending_calls *pending, unsigned long thread_id,
 
 /* Pop one item off the queue while holding the lock. */
 static void
-_pop_pending_call(struct _pending_calls *pending, unsigned long *thread_id,
+_pop_pending_call(struct _pending_calls *pending,
                   int (**func)(void *), void **arg)
 {
     int i = pending->first;
@@ -360,7 +365,6 @@ _pop_pending_call(struct _pending_calls *pending, unsigned long *thread_id,
 
     *func = pending->calls[i].func;
     *arg = pending->calls[i].arg;
-    *thread_id = pending->calls[i].thread_id;
     pending->first = (i + 1) % NPENDINGCALLS;
 }
 
@@ -370,10 +374,9 @@ _pop_pending_call(struct _pending_calls *pending, unsigned long *thread_id,
  */
 
 int
-_Py_AddPendingCall(PyInterpreterState *interp, unsigned long thread_id,
-                   int (*func)(void *), void *arg)
+Py_AddPendingCall(int (*func)(void *), void *arg)
 {
-    struct _pending_calls *pending = &interp->ceval.pending;
+    struct _pending_calls *pending = &_PyRuntime.ceval.pending;
 
     PyThread_acquire_lock(pending->lock, WAIT_LOCK);
     if (pending->finishing) {
@@ -388,23 +391,14 @@ _Py_AddPendingCall(PyInterpreterState *interp, unsigned long thread_id,
         PyErr_Restore(exc, val, tb);
         return -1;
     }
-    int result = _push_pending_call(pending, thread_id, func, arg);
-    /* signal main loop */
-    SIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS(interp);
+    int result = _push_pending_call(pending, func, arg);
     PyThread_release_lock(pending->lock);
 
+    /* signal main loop */
+    SIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS();
     return result;
 }
 
-/* Py_AddPendingCall() is a simple wrapper for the sake
-   of backward-compatibility. */
-int
-Py_AddPendingCall(int (*func)(void *), void *arg)
-{
-    PyInterpreterState *interp = _PyRuntime.interpreters.main;
-    return _Py_AddPendingCall(interp, _PyRuntime.main_thread, func, arg);
-}
-
 static int
 handle_signals(void)
 {
@@ -431,11 +425,15 @@ handle_signals(void)
 }
 
 static int
-make_pending_calls(PyInterpreterState *interp)
+make_pending_calls(struct _pending_calls* pending)
 {
-    struct _pending_calls *pending = &interp->ceval.pending;
     static int busy = 0;
 
+    /* only service pending calls on main thread */
+    if (PyThread_get_thread_ident() != _PyRuntime.main_thread) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
     /* don't perform recursive pending calls */
     if (busy) {
         return 0;
@@ -443,27 +441,19 @@ make_pending_calls(PyInterpreterState *interp)
     busy = 1;
     /* unsignal before starting to call callbacks, so that any callback
        added in-between re-signals */
-    UNSIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS(interp);
+    UNSIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS();
     int res = 0;
 
     /* perform a bounded number of calls, in case of recursion */
-    unsigned long thread_id = 0;
     for (int i=0; i<NPENDINGCALLS; i++) {
         int (*func)(void *) = NULL;
         void *arg = NULL;
 
         /* pop one item off the queue while holding the lock */
         PyThread_acquire_lock(pending->lock, WAIT_LOCK);
-        _pop_pending_call(pending, &thread_id, &func, &arg);
+        _pop_pending_call(pending, &func, &arg);
         PyThread_release_lock(pending->lock);
 
-        if (thread_id && PyThread_get_thread_ident() != thread_id) {
-            // Thread mismatch, so move it to the end of the list
-            // and start over.
-            _Py_AddPendingCall(interp, thread_id, func, arg);
-            goto error;
-        }
-
         /* having released the lock, perform the callback */
         if (func == NULL) {
             break;
@@ -479,14 +469,14 @@ make_pending_calls(PyInterpreterState *interp)
 
 error:
     busy = 0;
-    SIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS(interp); /* We're not done yet */
+    SIGNAL_PENDING_CALLS();
     return res;
 }
 
 void
-_Py_FinishPendingCalls(PyInterpreterState *interp)
+_Py_FinishPendingCalls(void)
 {
-    struct _pending_calls *pending = &interp->ceval.pending;
+    struct _pending_calls *pending = &_PyRuntime.ceval.pending;
 
     assert(PyGILState_Check());
 
@@ -498,7 +488,7 @@ _Py_FinishPendingCalls(PyInterpreterState *interp)
         return;
     }
 
-    if (make_pending_calls(interp) < 0) {
+    if (make_pending_calls(pending) < 0) {
         PyObject *exc, *val, *tb;
         PyErr_Fetch(&exc, &val, &tb);
         PyErr_BadInternalCall();
@@ -507,14 +497,6 @@ _Py_FinishPendingCalls(PyInterpreterState *interp)
     }
 }
 
-int
-_Py_MakePendingCalls(PyInterpreterState *interp)
-{
-    assert(PyGILState_Check());
-
-    return make_pending_calls(interp);
-}
-
 /* Py_MakePendingCalls() is a simple wrapper for the sake
    of backward-compatibility. */
 int
@@ -529,8 +511,12 @@ Py_MakePendingCalls(void)
         return res;
     }
 
-    PyInterpreterState *interp = _PyRuntime.interpreters.main;
-    return make_pending_calls(interp);
+    res = make_pending_calls(&_PyRuntime.ceval.pending);
+    if (res != 0) {
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /* The interpreter's recursion limit */
@@ -652,7 +638,7 @@ _PyEval_EvalFrameDefault(PyFrameObject *f, int throwflag)
     PyObject **fastlocals, **freevars;
     PyObject *retval = NULL;            /* Return value */
     PyThreadState *tstate = _PyThreadState_GET();
-    _Py_atomic_int *eval_breaker = &tstate->interp->ceval.eval_breaker;
+    _Py_atomic_int *eval_breaker = &_PyRuntime.ceval.eval_breaker;
     PyCodeObject *co;
 
     /* when tracing we set things up so that
@@ -1073,9 +1059,9 @@ main_loop:
                 }
             }
             if (_Py_atomic_load_relaxed(
-                        &tstate->interp->ceval.pending.calls_to_do))
+                        &_PyRuntime.ceval.pending.calls_to_do))
             {
-                if (make_pending_calls(tstate->interp) != 0) {
+                if (make_pending_calls(&_PyRuntime.ceval.pending) != 0) {
                     goto error;
                 }
             }
@@ -1107,7 +1093,7 @@ main_loop:
             if (tstate->async_exc != NULL) {
                 PyObject *exc = tstate->async_exc;
                 tstate->async_exc = NULL;
-                UNSIGNAL_ASYNC_EXC(tstate->interp);
+                UNSIGNAL_ASYNC_EXC();
                 PyErr_SetNone(exc);
                 Py_DECREF(exc);
                 goto error;
diff --git a/Python/ceval_gil.h b/Python/ceval_gil.h
index d9ad3616fa2..f2d5fdba015 100644
--- a/Python/ceval_gil.h
+++ b/Python/ceval_gil.h
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ static void drop_gil(PyThreadState *tstate)
                     &_PyRuntime.ceval.gil.last_holder)
             ) == tstate)
         {
-        RESET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST(tstate->interp);
+        RESET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST();
             /* NOTE: if COND_WAIT does not atomically start waiting when
                releasing the mutex, another thread can run through, take
                the GIL and drop it again, and reset the condition
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ static void take_gil(PyThreadState *tstate)
         if (timed_out &&
             _Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.gil.locked) &&
             _PyRuntime.ceval.gil.switch_number == saved_switchnum) {
-            SET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST(tstate->interp);
+            SET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST();
         }
     }
 _ready:
@@ -239,10 +239,10 @@ _ready:
     MUTEX_UNLOCK(_PyRuntime.ceval.gil.switch_mutex);
 #endif
     if (_Py_atomic_load_relaxed(&_PyRuntime.ceval.gil_drop_request)) {
-        RESET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST(tstate->interp);
+        RESET_GIL_DROP_REQUEST();
     }
     if (tstate->async_exc != NULL) {
-        _PyEval_SignalAsyncExc(tstate->interp);
+        _PyEval_SignalAsyncExc();
     }
 
     MUTEX_UNLOCK(_PyRuntime.ceval.gil.mutex);
diff --git a/Python/pylifecycle.c b/Python/pylifecycle.c
index 44acba2d93e..ad1447256cc 100644
--- a/Python/pylifecycle.c
+++ b/Python/pylifecycle.c
@@ -1146,7 +1146,7 @@ Py_FinalizeEx(void)
     interp = tstate->interp;
 
     // Make any remaining pending calls.
-    _Py_FinishPendingCalls(interp);
+    _Py_FinishPendingCalls();
 
     /* The interpreter is still entirely intact at this point, and the
      * exit funcs may be relying on that.  In particular, if some thread
@@ -1552,9 +1552,6 @@ Py_EndInterpreter(PyThreadState *tstate)
     // Wrap up existing "threading"-module-created, non-daemon threads.
     wait_for_thread_shutdown();
 
-    // Make any remaining pending calls.
-    _Py_FinishPendingCalls(interp);
-
     call_py_exitfuncs(interp);
 
     if (tstate != interp->tstate_head || tstate->next != NULL)
diff --git a/Python/pystate.c b/Python/pystate.c
index fee35010000..a2464b6cf55 100644
--- a/Python/pystate.c
+++ b/Python/pystate.c
@@ -173,14 +173,6 @@ PyInterpreterState_New(void)
     memset(interp, 0, sizeof(*interp));
     interp->id_refcount = -1;
     interp->check_interval = 100;
-
-    interp->ceval.pending.lock = PyThread_allocate_lock();
-    if (interp->ceval.pending.lock == NULL) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_RuntimeError,
-                        "failed to create interpreter ceval pending mutex");
-        return NULL;
-    }
-
     interp->core_config = _PyCoreConfig_INIT;
     interp->eval_frame = _PyEval_EvalFrameDefault;
 #ifdef HAVE_DLOPEN
@@ -287,9 +279,6 @@ PyInterpreterState_Delete(PyInterpreterState *interp)
     if (interp->id_mutex != NULL) {
         PyThread_free_lock(interp->id_mutex);
     }
-    if (interp->ceval.pending.lock != NULL) {
-        PyThread_free_lock(interp->ceval.pending.lock);
-    }
     PyMem_RawFree(interp);
 }
 
@@ -939,7 +928,7 @@ PyThreadState_SetAsyncExc(unsigned long id, PyObject *exc)
             p->async_exc = exc;
             HEAD_UNLOCK();
             Py_XDECREF(old_exc);
-            _PyEval_SignalAsyncExc(interp);
+            _PyEval_SignalAsyncExc();
             return 1;
         }
     }
@@ -1353,7 +1342,7 @@ _PyObject_GetCrossInterpreterData(PyObject *obj, _PyCrossInterpreterData *data)
     return 0;
 }
 
-static int
+static void
 _release_xidata(void *arg)
 {
     _PyCrossInterpreterData *data = (_PyCrossInterpreterData *)arg;
@@ -1361,8 +1350,30 @@ _release_xidata(void *arg)
         data->free(data->data);
     }
     Py_XDECREF(data->obj);
-    PyMem_Free(data);
-    return 0;
+}
+
+static void
+_call_in_interpreter(PyInterpreterState *interp,
+                     void (*func)(void *), void *arg)
+{
+    /* We would use Py_AddPendingCall() if it weren't specific to the
+     * main interpreter (see bpo-33608).  In the meantime we take a
+     * naive approach.
+     */
+    PyThreadState *save_tstate = NULL;
+    if (interp != _PyInterpreterState_Get()) {
+        // XXX Using the "head" thread isn't strictly correct.
+        PyThreadState *tstate = PyInterpreterState_ThreadHead(interp);
+        // XXX Possible GILState issues?
+        save_tstate = PyThreadState_Swap(tstate);
+    }
+
+    func(arg);
+
+    // Switch back.
+    if (save_tstate != NULL) {
+        PyThreadState_Swap(save_tstate);
+    }
 }
 
 void
@@ -1373,7 +1384,7 @@ _PyCrossInterpreterData_Release(_PyCrossInterpreterData *data)
         return;
     }
 
-    // Get the original interpreter.
+    // Switch to the original interpreter.
     PyInterpreterState *interp = _PyInterpreterState_LookUpID(data->interp);
     if (interp == NULL) {
         // The intepreter was already destroyed.
@@ -1382,24 +1393,9 @@ _PyCrossInterpreterData_Release(_PyCrossInterpreterData *data)
         }
         return;
     }
-    // XXX There's an ever-so-slight race here...
-    if (interp->finalizing) {
-        // XXX Someone leaked some memory...
-        return;
-    }
 
     // "Release" the data and/or the object.
-    _PyCrossInterpreterData *copied = PyMem_Malloc(sizeof(_PyCrossInterpreterData));
-    if (copied == NULL) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_MemoryError,
-                        "Not enough memory to preserve cross-interpreter data");
-        PyErr_Print();
-        return;
-    }
-    memcpy(copied, data, sizeof(_PyCrossInterpreterData));
-    if (_Py_AddPendingCall(interp, 0, _release_xidata, copied) != 0) {
-        // XXX Queue full or couldn't get lock.  Try again somehow?
-    }
+    _call_in_interpreter(interp, _release_xidata, data);
 }
 
 PyObject *