diff --git a/Python/pylifecycle.c b/Python/pylifecycle.c
index 49a2f18e49f..df9570b2e48 100644
--- a/Python/pylifecycle.c
+++ b/Python/pylifecycle.c
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ static void call_ll_exitfuncs(void);
 
 int _Py_UnhandledKeyboardInterrupt = 0;
 _PyRuntimeState _PyRuntime = _PyRuntimeState_INIT;
+static int runtime_initialized = 0;
 
 _PyInitError
 _PyRuntime_Initialize(void)
@@ -79,11 +80,10 @@ _PyRuntime_Initialize(void)
        every Py_Initialize() call, but doing so breaks the runtime.
        This is because the runtime state is not properly finalized
        currently. */
-    static int initialized = 0;
-    if (initialized) {
+    if (runtime_initialized) {
         return _Py_INIT_OK();
     }
-    initialized = 1;
+    runtime_initialized = 1;
 
     return _PyRuntimeState_Init(&_PyRuntime);
 }
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ void
 _PyRuntime_Finalize(void)
 {
     _PyRuntimeState_Fini(&_PyRuntime);
+    runtime_initialized = 0;
 }
 
 int