diff --git a/Modules/_elementtree.c b/Modules/_elementtree.c
--- a/Modules/_elementtree.c
+++ b/Modules/_elementtree.c
@@ -3626,6 +3626,8 @@
     PyObject *m, *temp;
 
     /* Initialize object types */
+    if (PyType_Ready(&ElementIter_Type) < 0)
+        return NULL;
     if (PyType_Ready(&TreeBuilder_Type) < 0)
         return NULL;
     if (PyType_Ready(&Element_Type) < 0)