diff --git a/Lib/test/test_xml_etree_c.py b/Lib/test/test_xml_etree_c.py
index 171a3f88b9..353034e174 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_xml_etree_c.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_xml_etree_c.py
@@ -65,6 +65,17 @@ class MiscTests(unittest.TestCase):
         del root
         support.gc_collect()
 
+    def test_issue31499(self):
+        # If this test fails, it will most likely die via segfault.
+        def test():
+            parser = cET.XMLParser()
+            try:
+                parser.close()
+            except cET.ParseError as exc:
+                e = exc  # must keep local reference!
+        test()
+        support.gc_collect()
+
 
 @unittest.skipUnless(cET, 'requires _elementtree')
 class TestAliasWorking(unittest.TestCase):