diff --git a/Python/dynload_shlib.c b/Python/dynload_shlib.c
--- a/Python/dynload_shlib.c
+++ b/Python/dynload_shlib.c
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@
     ".dll",
 #else  /* !__CYGWIN__ */
     "." SOABI ".so",
+#ifndef Py_DEBUG
     ".abi" PYTHON_ABI_STRING ".so",
+#endif /* ! Py_DEBUG */
     ".so",
 #endif  /* __CYGWIN__ */
     NULL,