diff --git a/Python/marshal.c b/Python/marshal.c
index 08e28180c5d..6ca3495707d 100644
--- a/Python/marshal.c
+++ b/Python/marshal.c
@@ -881,6 +881,7 @@ r_object(RFILE *p)
                                 v = NULL;
                                 break;
                         }
+                        Py_DECREF(v2);
 		}
 		retval = v;
 		break;