diff --git a/Python/pystate.c b/Python/pystate.c
index 36057ee13b..09fbc3a7c9 100644
--- a/Python/pystate.c
+++ b/Python/pystate.c
@@ -290,12 +290,6 @@ interpreter_clear(PyInterpreterState *interp, PyThreadState *tstate)
         _PyErr_Clear(tstate);
     }
 
-    HEAD_LOCK(runtime);
-    for (PyThreadState *p = interp->tstate_head; p != NULL; p = p->next) {
-        PyThreadState_Clear(p);
-    }
-    HEAD_UNLOCK(runtime);
-
     Py_CLEAR(interp->audit_hooks);
 
     PyConfig_Clear(&interp->config);
@@ -324,6 +318,11 @@ interpreter_clear(PyInterpreterState *interp, PyThreadState *tstate)
 
     /* Last garbage collection on this interpreter */
     _PyGC_CollectNoFail(tstate);
+    HEAD_LOCK(runtime);
+    for (PyThreadState *p = interp->tstate_head; p != NULL; p = p->next) {
+        PyThreadState_Clear(p);
+    }
+    HEAD_UNLOCK(runtime);
     _PyGC_Fini(interp);
 
     /* We don't clear sysdict and builtins until the end of this function.