diff --git a/src/runtime/python/pypgf.c b/src/runtime/python/pypgf.c
index 020171991..44f42ff22 100644
--- a/src/runtime/python/pypgf.c
+++ b/src/runtime/python/pypgf.c
@@ -859,8 +859,8 @@ _collect_cats(PgfItor *fn, PgfText *key, object value, PgfExn *err)
 
     if (PyList_Append((PyObject*) clo->collection, py_name) != 0) {
         err->type = PGF_EXN_OTHER_ERROR;
-        Py_DECREF(py_name);
     }
+    Py_DECREF(py_name);
 }
 
 static PyObject *