diff --git a/Lib/xml/dom/expatbuilder.py b/Lib/xml/dom/expatbuilder.py
index 59e3ac4fefb..47d81fb1e97 100644
--- a/Lib/xml/dom/expatbuilder.py
+++ b/Lib/xml/dom/expatbuilder.py
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ def pi_handler(self, target, data):
         node = self.document.createProcessingInstruction(target, data)
         _append_child(self.curNode, node)
         if self._filter and self._filter.acceptNode(node) == FILTER_REJECT:
-            curNode.removeChild(node)
+            self.curNode.removeChild(node)
 
     def character_data_handler_cdata(self, data):
         childNodes = self.curNode.childNodes