diff --git a/src/embed_tests/pyinitialize.cs b/src/embed_tests/pyinitialize.cs
index 1622f46d3..df791d664 100644
--- a/src/embed_tests/pyinitialize.cs
+++ b/src/embed_tests/pyinitialize.cs
@@ -46,6 +46,22 @@ public static void LoadSpecificArgs()
             }
         }
 
+        // regression test for https://github.com/pythonnet/pythonnet/issues/1561
+        [Test]
+        public void ImportClassShutdownRefcount()
+        {
+            PythonEngine.Initialize();
+
+            PyObject ns = Py.Import(typeof(ImportClassShutdownRefcountClass).Namespace);
+            PyObject cls = ns.GetAttr(nameof(ImportClassShutdownRefcountClass));
+            ns.Dispose();
+
+            Assert.Less(cls.Refcount, 256);
+
+            PythonEngine.Shutdown();
+            Assert.Greater(cls.Refcount, 0);
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Failing test demonstrating current issue with OverflowException (#376)
         /// and ArgumentException issue after that one is fixed.
@@ -182,4 +198,6 @@ public static void TestRunExitFuncs()
             Assert.True(called);
         }
     }
+
+    public class ImportClassShutdownRefcountClass { }
 }
diff --git a/src/runtime/classmanager.cs b/src/runtime/classmanager.cs
index 18b9f6911..55c330af7 100644
--- a/src/runtime/classmanager.cs
+++ b/src/runtime/classmanager.cs
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ internal static void DisposePythonWrappersForClrTypes()
                     // since others may still referencing it.
                     cls.CallTypeTraverse(TraverseTypeClear, visitedPtr);
                     cls.CallTypeClear();
-                    cls.DecrRefCount();
                 }
             }
             finally