diff --git a/Objects/listobject.c b/Objects/listobject.c
index ee53a8bddbed44..31ec8d5e05cf50 100644
--- a/Objects/listobject.c
+++ b/Objects/listobject.c
@@ -373,11 +373,7 @@ list_item_impl(PyListObject *self, Py_ssize_t idx)
     if (!valid_index(idx, size)) {
         goto exit;
     }
-#ifdef Py_GIL_DISABLED
     item = _Py_NewRefWithLock(self->ob_item[idx]);
-#else
-    item = Py_NewRef(self->ob_item[idx]);
-#endif
 exit:
     Py_END_CRITICAL_SECTION();
     return item;