diff --git a/Python/getargs.c b/Python/getargs.c
index b947a0cb0aa..cf1c6b72a27 100644
--- a/Python/getargs.c
+++ b/Python/getargs.c
@@ -1123,6 +1123,7 @@ vgetargskeywords(PyObject *args, PyObject *keywords, char *format,
 				return 0;
 			}
 			converted++;
+			Py_DECREF(item);
 		}
 		else {
 			PyErr_Clear();