Index: Lib/test/script_helper.py
===================================================================
--- Lib/test/script_helper.py	(revision 87048)
+++ Lib/test/script_helper.py	(working copy)
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 import sys
 import os
+import re
 import os.path
 import tempfile
 import subprocess
@@ -14,6 +15,10 @@
 from imp import source_from_cache
 from test.support import make_legacy_pyc
 
+_refcount = re.compile(br"^\[[0-9]+ refs\]\n", flags=re.MULTILINE)
+def _remove_refcount(s):
+    return _refcount.sub(b'', s)
+
 # Executing the interpreter in a subprocess
 def _assert_python(expected_success, *args, **env_vars):
     cmd_line = [sys.executable]
@@ -34,6 +39,7 @@
         p.stdout.close()
         p.stderr.close()
     rc = p.returncode
+    err = _remove_refcount(err)
     if (rc and expected_success) or (not rc and not expected_success):
         raise AssertionError(
             "Process return code is %d, "