diff --git a/src/_avif.c b/src/_avif.c
index e0b1c84b3f4..69b9ba83b31 100644
--- a/src/_avif.c
+++ b/src/_avif.c
@@ -940,5 +940,9 @@ PyInit__avif(void) {
         return NULL;
     }
 
+#ifdef Py_GIL_DISABLED
+    PyUnstable_Module_SetGIL(m, Py_MOD_GIL_NOT_USED);
+#endif
+
     return m;
 }