diff --git a/Modules/_testcapi/structmember.c b/Modules/_testcapi/structmember.c
index 0fb872a4328d60..641b003e56d329 100644
--- a/Modules/_testcapi/structmember.c
+++ b/Modules/_testcapi/structmember.c
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ _PyTestCapi_Init_Structmember(PyObject *m)
     if (res < 0) {
         return -1;
     }
-    res = PyModule_AddObject(
+    res = PyModule_AddObjectRef(
         m,
         "_test_structmembersType_OldAPI",
         (PyObject *)&test_structmembersType_OldAPI);