diff --git a/Modules/_pickle.c b/Modules/_pickle.c
index 5837cd41a40..2696f380461 100644
--- a/Modules/_pickle.c
+++ b/Modules/_pickle.c
@@ -6730,6 +6730,7 @@ load_build(PickleState *st, UnpicklerObject *self)
             }
             if (PyObject_SetItem(dict, d_key, d_value) < 0) {
                 Py_DECREF(d_key);
+                Py_DECREF(dict);
                 goto error;
             }
             Py_DECREF(d_key);