diff --git a/Modules/_sqlite/connection.c b/Modules/_sqlite/connection.c
index 1bc045523a252e..19d30d24d7f2e7 100644
--- a/Modules/_sqlite/connection.c
+++ b/Modules/_sqlite/connection.c
@@ -1807,6 +1807,7 @@ pysqlite_connection_exit_impl(pysqlite_Connection *self, PyObject *exc_type,
                 _PyErr_ChainExceptions(exc, val, tb);
             }
             else {
+                Py_DECREF(result);
                 PyErr_Restore(exc, val, tb);
             }
         }