diff --git a/Objects/listobject.c b/Objects/listobject.c
index 4a98c8e54ab03f..44c2545950cb87 100644
--- a/Objects/listobject.c
+++ b/Objects/listobject.c
@@ -3258,10 +3258,8 @@ _PyList_AsTupleAndClear(PyListObject *self)
     Py_BEGIN_CRITICAL_SECTION(self);
     PyObject **items = self->ob_item;
     Py_ssize_t size = Py_SIZE(self);
-    self->ob_item = NULL;
     Py_SET_SIZE(self, 0);
     ret = _PyTuple_FromArraySteal(items, size);
-    free_list_items(items, false);
     Py_END_CRITICAL_SECTION();
     return ret;
 }