diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core_and_Builtins/2025-04-14-15-22-30.gh-issue-132519.Ngn0__.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core_and_Builtins/2025-04-14-15-22-30.gh-issue-132519.Ngn0__.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..f8c1bb77770225
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core_and_Builtins/2025-04-14-15-22-30.gh-issue-132519.Ngn0__.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix excessive memory usage when freeing large blocks via QSBR in :term:`free-threaded <free threading>` build.
diff --git a/Python/ceval_gil.c b/Python/ceval_gil.c
index a455779a6598e9..8ec0f0f677a517 100644
--- a/Python/ceval_gil.c
+++ b/Python/ceval_gil.c
@@ -1350,6 +1350,9 @@ _Py_HandlePending(PyThreadState *tstate)
         _Py_unset_eval_breaker_bit(tstate, _PY_EVAL_EXPLICIT_MERGE_BIT);
         _Py_brc_merge_refcounts(tstate);
     }
+
+    /* Keep memory usage down if QSBR freeing large blocks. */
+    _PyMem_ProcessDelayed(tstate);
 #endif
 
     /* GC scheduled to run */