diff -r 9552f8af321e Lib/re.py
--- a/Lib/re.py	Wed Sep 28 07:53:32 2016 +0300
+++ b/Lib/re.py	Wed Sep 28 08:28:29 2016 +0300
@@ -301,7 +301,9 @@ def _compile(pattern, flags):
     p = sre_compile.compile(pattern, flags)
     if not (flags & DEBUG):
         if len(_cache) >= _MAXCACHE:
-            _cache.clear()
+            for k in _cache:
+                del _cache[k]
+                break
         if p.flags & LOCALE:
             if not _locale:
                 return p