diff --git a/numpy/core/src/multiarray/scalartypes.c.src b/numpy/core/src/multiarray/scalartypes.c.src
index fe753f64b1e8..02f3223e7f68 100644
--- a/numpy/core/src/multiarray/scalartypes.c.src
+++ b/numpy/core/src/multiarray/scalartypes.c.src
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@ genint_type_str(PyObject *self)
             item = gentype_generic_method(self, NULL, NULL, "item");
             break;
     }
+    Py_DECREF(descr);
     if (item == NULL) {
         return NULL;
     }