diff --git a/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c b/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c
index 156ad18..4f83a87 100644
--- a/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c
@@ -1400,8 +1400,10 @@ defdict_repr(defdictobject *dd)
     {
         int status = Py_ReprEnter(dd->default_factory);
         if (status != 0) {
-            if (status < 0)
-                return NULL;
+        if (status < 0) {
+            Py_DECREF(baserepr);
+            return NULL;
+          }
             defrepr = PyUnicode_FromString("...");
         }
         else