diff --git a/Python/sysmodule.c b/Python/sysmodule.c
index f04403b76aa..a0485073817 100644
--- a/Python/sysmodule.c
+++ b/Python/sysmodule.c
@@ -1757,7 +1757,6 @@ get_warnoptions(void)
          * call optional for embedding applications, thus making this
          * reachable again.
          */
-        Py_XDECREF(warnoptions);
         warnoptions = PyList_New(0);
         if (warnoptions == NULL)
             return NULL;
@@ -1842,7 +1841,6 @@ get_xoptions(void)
          * call optional for embedding applications, thus making this
          * reachable again.
          */
-        Py_XDECREF(xoptions);
         xoptions = PyDict_New();
         if (xoptions == NULL)
             return NULL;