diff --git a/Python/gc.c b/Python/gc.c
index 2e697faac032b5..dadcd6bab84e77 100644
--- a/Python/gc.c
+++ b/Python/gc.c
@@ -1396,7 +1396,7 @@ expand_region_transitively_reachable(PyGC_Head *container, PyGC_Head *gc, GCStat
         assert(_PyObject_GC_IS_TRACKED(op));
         if (_Py_IsImmortal(op)) {
             PyGC_Head *next = GC_NEXT(gc);
-            gc_list_move(gc, &gcstate->permanent_generation.head);
+            _PyObject_GC_UNTRACK(op);
             gc = next;
             continue;
         }