diff --git a/Include/object.h b/Include/object.h
index a9d434b5108068..01f6b0b689f085 100644
--- a/Include/object.h
+++ b/Include/object.h
@@ -439,7 +439,6 @@ static inline void _Py_NewReference(PyObject *op)
         _PyTraceMalloc_NewReference(op);
     }
     _Py_INC_TPALLOCS(op);
-    _Py_INC_REFTOTAL;
     Py_REFCNT(op) = 1;
 }