diff --git a/Python/optimizer.c b/Python/optimizer.c
index 83b0b1a5deba5c..6ad9124744859a 100644
--- a/Python/optimizer.c
+++ b/Python/optimizer.c
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ uop_item(PyObject *op, Py_ssize_t index)
         return NULL;
     }
     PyObject *target = PyLong_FromUnsignedLong(self->trace[index].target);
-    if (oparg == NULL) {
+    if (target == NULL) {
         Py_DECREF(oparg);
         Py_DECREF(oname);
         return NULL;