diff --git a/Python/import.c b/Python/import.c
index 4dd247fac27654..317c9613a56392 100644
--- a/Python/import.c
+++ b/Python/import.c
@@ -3827,7 +3827,6 @@ PyImport_ImportModuleLevelObject(PyObject *name, PyObject *globals,
     PyObject *abs_name = NULL;
     PyObject *final_mod = NULL;
     PyObject *mod = NULL;
-    PyObject *package = NULL;
     PyInterpreterState *interp = tstate->interp;
     int has_from;
 
@@ -3956,7 +3955,6 @@ PyImport_ImportModuleLevelObject(PyObject *name, PyObject *globals,
   error:
     Py_XDECREF(abs_name);
     Py_XDECREF(mod);
-    Py_XDECREF(package);
     if (final_mod == NULL) {
         remove_importlib_frames(tstate);
     }