diff --git a/Doc/includes/custom2.c b/Doc/includes/custom2.c
index aee9e1bb7f2d74..7757ea69cc30c4 100644
--- a/Doc/includes/custom2.c
+++ b/Doc/includes/custom2.c
@@ -50,14 +50,10 @@ Custom_init(CustomObject *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
         return -1;
 
     if (first) {
-        tmp = self->first;
-        self->first = Py_NewRef(first);
-        Py_XDECREF(tmp);
+        Py_XSETREF(self->first, Py_NewRef(first));
     }
     if (last) {
-        tmp = self->last;
-        self->last = Py_NewRef(last);
-        Py_XDECREF(tmp);
+        Py_XSETREF(self->last, Py_NewRef(last));
     }
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/Doc/includes/custom3.c b/Doc/includes/custom3.c
index 8d88bc24511829..f6372148a8f31e 100644
--- a/Doc/includes/custom3.c
+++ b/Doc/includes/custom3.c
@@ -50,14 +50,10 @@ Custom_init(CustomObject *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
         return -1;
 
     if (first) {
-        tmp = self->first;
-        self->first = Py_NewRef(first);
-        Py_DECREF(tmp);
+        Py_SETREF(self->first, Py_NewRef(first));
     }
     if (last) {
-        tmp = self->last;
-        self->last = Py_NewRef(last);
-        Py_DECREF(tmp);
+        Py_SETREF(self->last, Py_NewRef(last));
     }
     return 0;
 }
@@ -87,9 +83,7 @@ Custom_setfirst(CustomObject *self, PyObject *value, void *closure)
                         "The first attribute value must be a string");
         return -1;
     }
-    tmp = self->first;
-    self->first = Py_NewRef(value);
-    Py_DECREF(tmp);
+    Py_SETREF(self->first, Py_NewRef(value));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -112,9 +106,7 @@ Custom_setlast(CustomObject *self, PyObject *value, void *closure)
                         "The last attribute value must be a string");
         return -1;
     }
-    tmp = self->last;
-    self->last = Py_NewRef(value);
-    Py_DECREF(tmp);
+    Py_SETREF(self->last, Py_NewRef(value));
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/Doc/includes/custom4.c b/Doc/includes/custom4.c
index ad240ae6a8df7b..7b49c12d1fec33 100644
--- a/Doc/includes/custom4.c
+++ b/Doc/includes/custom4.c
@@ -66,14 +66,10 @@ Custom_init(CustomObject *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
         return -1;
 
     if (first) {
-        tmp = self->first;
-        self->first = Py_NewRef(first);
-        Py_DECREF(tmp);
+        Py_SETREF(self->first, Py_NewRef(first));
     }
     if (last) {
-        tmp = self->last;
-        self->last = Py_NewRef(last);
-        Py_DECREF(tmp);
+        Py_SETREF(self->last, Py_NewRef(last));
     }
     return 0;
 }
@@ -102,9 +98,7 @@ Custom_setfirst(CustomObject *self, PyObject *value, void *closure)
                         "The first attribute value must be a string");
         return -1;
     }
-    Py_INCREF(value);
-    Py_CLEAR(self->first);
-    self->first = value;
+    Py_XSETREF(self->first, Py_NewRef(value));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -126,9 +120,7 @@ Custom_setlast(CustomObject *self, PyObject *value, void *closure)
                         "The last attribute value must be a string");
         return -1;
     }
-    Py_INCREF(value);
-    Py_CLEAR(self->last);
-    self->last = value;
+    Py_XSETREF(self->last, Py_NewRef(value));
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/Modules/_abc.c b/Modules/_abc.c
index e6e72427a0481d..656afe43a7e68a 100644
--- a/Modules/_abc.c
+++ b/Modules/_abc.c
@@ -624,8 +624,7 @@ _abc__abc_instancecheck_impl(PyObject *module, PyObject *self,
 
     switch (PyObject_IsTrue(result)) {
     case -1:
-        Py_DECREF(result);
-        result = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(result);
         break;
     case 0:
         Py_DECREF(result);
diff --git a/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c b/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c
index f1fd271f6d213f..5fa583821889f3 100644
--- a/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c
@@ -1256,7 +1256,6 @@ deque_remove(dequeobject *deque, PyObject *value)
 static int
 deque_ass_item(dequeobject *deque, Py_ssize_t i, PyObject *v)
 {
-    PyObject *old_value;
     block *b;
     Py_ssize_t n, len=Py_SIZE(deque), halflen=(len+1)>>1, index=i;
 
@@ -1282,9 +1281,7 @@ deque_ass_item(dequeobject *deque, Py_ssize_t i, PyObject *v)
         while (--n >= 0)
             b = b->leftlink;
     }
-    old_value = b->data[i];
-    b->data[i] = Py_NewRef(v);
-    Py_DECREF(old_value);
+    Py_SETREF(b->data[i], Py_NewRef(v));
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/Modules/_datetimemodule.c b/Modules/_datetimemodule.c
index 20e8516fcde7fb..5dc241e7fbd57e 100644
--- a/Modules/_datetimemodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_datetimemodule.c
@@ -1328,8 +1328,7 @@ call_tzname(PyObject *tzinfo, PyObject *tzinfoarg)
         PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError, "tzinfo.tzname() must "
                      "return None or a string, not '%s'",
                      Py_TYPE(result)->tp_name);
-        Py_DECREF(result);
-        result = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(result);
     }
 
     return result;
@@ -1849,8 +1848,7 @@ delta_to_microseconds(PyDateTime_Delta *self)
     x2 = PyNumber_Multiply(x1, seconds_per_day);        /* days in seconds */
     if (x2 == NULL)
         goto Done;
-    Py_DECREF(x1);
-    x1 = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(x1);
 
     /* x2 has days in seconds */
     x1 = PyLong_FromLong(GET_TD_SECONDS(self));         /* seconds */
@@ -1867,8 +1865,7 @@ delta_to_microseconds(PyDateTime_Delta *self)
     x1 = PyNumber_Multiply(x3, us_per_second);          /* us */
     if (x1 == NULL)
         goto Done;
-    Py_DECREF(x3);
-    x3 = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(x3);
 
     /* x1 has days+seconds in us */
     x2 = PyLong_FromLong(GET_TD_MICROSECONDS(self));
@@ -2038,8 +2035,7 @@ multiply_truedivide_timedelta_float(PyDateTime_Delta *delta, PyObject *floatobj,
         goto error;
     }
     temp = PyNumber_Multiply(pyus_in, PyTuple_GET_ITEM(ratio, op));
-    Py_DECREF(pyus_in);
-    pyus_in = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(pyus_in);
     if (temp == NULL)
         goto error;
     pyus_out = divide_nearest(temp, PyTuple_GET_ITEM(ratio, !op));
@@ -6247,9 +6243,7 @@ datetime_astimezone(PyDateTime_DateTime *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kw)
     }
     else {
         /* Result is already aware - just replace tzinfo. */
-        temp = result->tzinfo;
-        result->tzinfo = Py_NewRef(PyDateTime_TimeZone_UTC);
-        Py_DECREF(temp);
+        Py_SETREF(result->tzinfo, Py_NewRef(PyDateTime_TimeZone_UTC));
     }
 
     /* Attach new tzinfo and let fromutc() do the rest. */
diff --git a/Modules/_elementtree.c b/Modules/_elementtree.c
index 7b0977931f2ae6..bd542d18534375 100644
--- a/Modules/_elementtree.c
+++ b/Modules/_elementtree.c
@@ -345,8 +345,7 @@ get_attrib_from_keywords(PyObject *kwds)
         }
         attrib = PyDict_Copy(attrib);
         if (attrib && PyDict_DelItem(kwds, attrib_str) < 0) {
-            Py_DECREF(attrib);
-            attrib = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(attrib);
         }
     }
     else if (!PyErr_Occurred()) {
@@ -537,8 +536,7 @@ element_get_text(ElementObject* self)
             if (!tmp)
                 return NULL;
             self->text = tmp;
-            Py_DECREF(res);
-            res = tmp;
+            Py_SETREF(res, tmp);
         }
     }
 
@@ -559,8 +557,7 @@ element_get_tail(ElementObject* self)
             if (!tmp)
                 return NULL;
             self->tail = tmp;
-            Py_DECREF(res);
-            res = tmp;
+            Py_SETREF(res, tmp);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/Modules/_functoolsmodule.c b/Modules/_functoolsmodule.c
index 3aef296745ada1..3130306edfe7d7 100644
--- a/Modules/_functoolsmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_functoolsmodule.c
@@ -1242,8 +1242,7 @@ lru_cache_clear_list(lru_list_elem *link)
 {
     while (link != NULL) {
         lru_list_elem *next = link->next;
-        Py_DECREF(link);
-        link = next;
+        Py_SETREF(link, next);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/Modules/_io/_iomodule.c b/Modules/_io/_iomodule.c
index ccd40ab8bca451..b3b589c2ee3885 100644
--- a/Modules/_io/_iomodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_io/_iomodule.c
@@ -334,8 +334,7 @@ _io_open_impl(PyObject *module, PyObject *file, const char *mode,
         goto error;
     result = raw;
 
-    Py_DECREF(path_or_fd);
-    path_or_fd = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(path_or_fd);
 
     modeobj = PyUnicode_FromString(mode);
     if (modeobj == NULL)
diff --git a/Modules/_io/stringio.c b/Modules/_io/stringio.c
index 5c3bf353680ea4..ae6c3125a2d9da 100644
--- a/Modules/_io/stringio.c
+++ b/Modules/_io/stringio.c
@@ -193,8 +193,7 @@ write_str(stringio *self, PyObject *obj)
     if (self->writenl) {
         PyObject *translated = PyUnicode_Replace(
             decoded, &_Py_STR(newline), self->writenl, -1);
-        Py_DECREF(decoded);
-        decoded = translated;
+        Py_SETREF(decoded, translated);
     }
     if (decoded == NULL)
         return -1;
diff --git a/Modules/_io/textio.c b/Modules/_io/textio.c
index 8b5d00fe4aafd7..ff903e9341de27 100644
--- a/Modules/_io/textio.c
+++ b/Modules/_io/textio.c
@@ -320,8 +320,7 @@ _PyIncrementalNewlineDecoder_decode(PyObject *myself,
         out = PyUnicode_DATA(modified);
         PyUnicode_WRITE(kind, out, 0, '\r');
         memcpy(out + kind, PyUnicode_DATA(output), kind * output_len);
-        Py_DECREF(output);
-        output = modified; /* output remains ready */
+        Py_SETREF(output, modified); /* output remains ready */
         self->pendingcr = 0;
         output_len++;
     }
@@ -336,8 +335,7 @@ _PyIncrementalNewlineDecoder_decode(PyObject *myself,
             PyObject *modified = PyUnicode_Substring(output, 0, output_len -1);
             if (modified == NULL)
                 goto error;
-            Py_DECREF(output);
-            output = modified;
+            Py_SETREF(output, modified);
             self->pendingcr = 1;
         }
     }
@@ -865,8 +863,7 @@ _textiowrapper_set_decoder(textio *self, PyObject *codec_info,
             self->decoder, self->readtranslate ? Py_True : Py_False, NULL);
         if (incrementalDecoder == NULL)
             return -1;
-        Py_CLEAR(self->decoder);
-        self->decoder = incrementalDecoder;
+        Py_XSETREF(self->decoder, incrementalDecoder);
     }
 
     return 0;
diff --git a/Modules/_json.c b/Modules/_json.c
index 06f232f7d7de9b..81431aa1041c55 100644
--- a/Modules/_json.c
+++ b/Modules/_json.c
@@ -709,9 +709,7 @@ _parse_object_unicode(PyScannerObject *s, PyObject *pystr, Py_ssize_t idx, Py_ss
             if (memokey == NULL) {
                 goto bail;
             }
-            Py_INCREF(memokey);
-            Py_DECREF(key);
-            key = memokey;
+            Py_SETREF(key, Py_NewRef(memokey));
             idx = next_idx;
 
             /* skip whitespace between key and : delimiter, read :, skip whitespace */
diff --git a/Modules/_pickle.c b/Modules/_pickle.c
index db62094c5a5af9..bb07e76959ee9c 100644
--- a/Modules/_pickle.c
+++ b/Modules/_pickle.c
@@ -1829,8 +1829,7 @@ get_deep_attribute(PyObject *obj, PyObject *names, PyObject **pparent)
     n = PyList_GET_SIZE(names);
     for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
         PyObject *name = PyList_GET_ITEM(names, i);
-        Py_XDECREF(parent);
-        parent = obj;
+        Py_XSETREF(parent, obj);
         (void)_PyObject_LookupAttr(parent, name, &obj);
         if (obj == NULL) {
             Py_DECREF(parent);
@@ -3717,9 +3716,7 @@ save_global(PicklerObject *self, PyObject *obj, PyObject *name)
     else {
   gen_global:
         if (parent == module) {
-            Py_INCREF(lastname);
-            Py_DECREF(global_name);
-            global_name = lastname;
+            Py_SETREF(global_name, Py_NewRef(lastname));
         }
         if (self->proto >= 4) {
             const char stack_global_op = STACK_GLOBAL;
@@ -4347,8 +4344,7 @@ save(PicklerObject *self, PyObject *obj, int pers_save)
         if (reduce_value != Py_NotImplemented) {
             goto reduce;
         }
-        Py_DECREF(reduce_value);
-        reduce_value = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(reduce_value);
     }
 
     if (type == &PyType_Type) {
diff --git a/Modules/_scproxy.c b/Modules/_scproxy.c
index 4c1f1aa300c717..51f7df6ccd8721 100644
--- a/Modules/_scproxy.c
+++ b/Modules/_scproxy.c
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ get_proxy_settings(PyObject* Py_UNUSED(mod), PyObject *Py_UNUSED(ignored))
     if (v == NULL) goto error;
 
     r = PyDict_SetItemString(result, "exclude_simple", v);
-    Py_DECREF(v); v = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(v);
     if (r == -1) goto error;
 
     anArray = CFDictionaryGetValue(proxyDict,
diff --git a/Modules/_sqlite/cursor.c b/Modules/_sqlite/cursor.c
index 7844b6e26cdbda..a4e22bb4a2b58d 100644
--- a/Modules/_sqlite/cursor.c
+++ b/Modules/_sqlite/cursor.c
@@ -1123,8 +1123,7 @@ pysqlite_cursor_iternext(pysqlite_Cursor *self)
         PyObject *factory = self->row_factory;
         PyObject *args[] = { (PyObject *)self, row, };
         PyObject *new_row = PyObject_Vectorcall(factory, args, 2, NULL);
-        Py_DECREF(row);
-        row = new_row;
+        Py_SETREF(row, new_row);
     }
     return row;
 }
diff --git a/Modules/_struct.c b/Modules/_struct.c
index 2f2eb25d984230..98157e18b2b421 100644
--- a/Modules/_struct.c
+++ b/Modules/_struct.c
@@ -2164,8 +2164,7 @@ cache_struct_converter(PyObject *module, PyObject *fmt, PyStructObject **ptr)
     _structmodulestate *state = get_struct_state(module);
 
     if (fmt == NULL) {
-        Py_DECREF(*ptr);
-        *ptr = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(*ptr);
         return 1;
     }
 
diff --git a/Modules/_testcapimodule.c b/Modules/_testcapimodule.c
index 2c21782dde16c8..c559141b7c53c4 100644
--- a/Modules/_testcapimodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_testcapimodule.c
@@ -574,8 +574,7 @@ test_long_and_overflow(PyObject *self, PyObject *Py_UNUSED(ignored))
     }
     temp = PyNumber_Add(num, one);
     Py_DECREF(one);
-    Py_DECREF(num);
-    num = temp;
+    Py_SETREF(num, temp);
     if (num == NULL)
         return NULL;
     overflow = 0;
@@ -618,8 +617,7 @@ test_long_and_overflow(PyObject *self, PyObject *Py_UNUSED(ignored))
     }
     temp = PyNumber_Subtract(num, one);
     Py_DECREF(one);
-    Py_DECREF(num);
-    num = temp;
+    Py_SETREF(num, temp);
     if (num == NULL)
         return NULL;
     overflow = 0;
@@ -738,8 +736,7 @@ test_long_long_and_overflow(PyObject *self, PyObject *Py_UNUSED(ignored))
     }
     temp = PyNumber_Add(num, one);
     Py_DECREF(one);
-    Py_DECREF(num);
-    num = temp;
+    Py_SETREF(num, temp);
     if (num == NULL)
         return NULL;
     overflow = 0;
@@ -782,8 +779,7 @@ test_long_long_and_overflow(PyObject *self, PyObject *Py_UNUSED(ignored))
     }
     temp = PyNumber_Subtract(num, one);
     Py_DECREF(one);
-    Py_DECREF(num);
-    num = temp;
+    Py_SETREF(num, temp);
     if (num == NULL)
         return NULL;
     overflow = 0;
diff --git a/Modules/_testinternalcapi.c b/Modules/_testinternalcapi.c
index cec114cb5919da..b14b8ac3c74054 100644
--- a/Modules/_testinternalcapi.c
+++ b/Modules/_testinternalcapi.c
@@ -523,8 +523,7 @@ set_eval_frame_record(PyObject *self, PyObject *list)
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "argument must be a list");
         return NULL;
     }
-    Py_CLEAR(record_list);
-    record_list = Py_NewRef(list);
+    Py_XSETREF(record_list, Py_NewRef(list));
     _PyInterpreterState_SetEvalFrameFunc(PyInterpreterState_Get(), record_eval);
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }
diff --git a/Modules/_tkinter.c b/Modules/_tkinter.c
index a5d5428eaf5077..e2d0114f9a8822 100644
--- a/Modules/_tkinter.c
+++ b/Modules/_tkinter.c
@@ -1105,8 +1105,7 @@ fromBignumObj(TkappObject *tkapp, Tcl_Obj *value)
     PyMem_Free(bytes);
     if (res != NULL && bigValue.sign == MP_NEG) {
         PyObject *res2 = PyNumber_Negative(res);
-        Py_DECREF(res);
-        res = res2;
+        Py_SETREF(res, res2);
     }
     mp_clear(&bigValue);
     return res;
@@ -2164,8 +2163,7 @@ _tkinter_tkapp_splitlist(TkappObject *self, PyObject *arg)
     for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
         PyObject *s = unicodeFromTclString(argv[i]);
         if (!s) {
-            Py_DECREF(v);
-            v = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(v);
             goto finally;
         }
         PyTuple_SET_ITEM(v, i, s);
diff --git a/Modules/_xxsubinterpretersmodule.c b/Modules/_xxsubinterpretersmodule.c
index e65137e58fb5bb..0513f1762ff133 100644
--- a/Modules/_xxsubinterpretersmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_xxsubinterpretersmodule.c
@@ -2320,8 +2320,7 @@ channel_list_all(PyObject *self, PyObject *Py_UNUSED(ignored))
         PyObject *id = (PyObject *)newchannelid(&ChannelIDtype, *cur, 0,
                                                 &_globals.channels, 0, 0);
         if (id == NULL) {
-            Py_DECREF(ids);
-            ids = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(ids);
             break;
         }
         PyList_SET_ITEM(ids, (Py_ssize_t)i, id);
@@ -2383,8 +2382,7 @@ channel_list_interpreters(PyObject *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
     goto finally;
 
 except:
-    Py_XDECREF(ids);
-    ids = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(ids);
 
 finally:
     return ids;
diff --git a/Modules/_zoneinfo.c b/Modules/_zoneinfo.c
index 34f5abd343ece0..f17fb8ef108fff 100644
--- a/Modules/_zoneinfo.c
+++ b/Modules/_zoneinfo.c
@@ -220,8 +220,7 @@ zoneinfo_new_instance(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *key)
     }
 
     PyObject *rv = PyObject_CallMethod(file_obj, "close", NULL);
-    Py_DECREF(file_obj);
-    file_obj = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(file_obj);
     if (rv == NULL) {
         goto error;
     }
@@ -231,8 +230,7 @@ zoneinfo_new_instance(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *key)
 
     goto cleanup;
 error:
-    Py_XDECREF(self);
-    self = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(self);
 cleanup:
     if (file_obj != NULL) {
         PyObject *exc, *val, *tb;
@@ -1074,8 +1072,7 @@ load_data(PyZoneInfo_ZoneInfo *self, PyObject *file_obj)
         // that the dstoff is set correctly in that case.
         if (PyObject_IsTrue(tti->dstoff)) {
             _ttinfo *tti_after = &(self->tzrule_after.std);
-            Py_DECREF(tti_after->dstoff);
-            tti_after->dstoff = Py_NewRef(tti->dstoff);
+            Py_SETREF(tti_after->dstoff, Py_NewRef(tti->dstoff));
         }
     }
 
@@ -2607,14 +2604,11 @@ static PyMethodDef module_methods[] = {{NULL, NULL}};
 static void
 module_free(void *m)
 {
-    Py_XDECREF(_tzpath_find_tzfile);
-    _tzpath_find_tzfile = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(_tzpath_find_tzfile);
 
-    Py_XDECREF(_common_mod);
-    _common_mod = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(_common_mod);
 
-    Py_XDECREF(io_open);
-    io_open = NULL;
+    Py_CLEAR(io_open);
 
     xdecref_ttinfo(&NO_TTINFO);
 
diff --git a/Modules/audioop.c b/Modules/audioop.c
index 6d484e8bba3ec7..9325f82f9a17e0 100644
--- a/Modules/audioop.c
+++ b/Modules/audioop.c
@@ -1471,8 +1471,7 @@ audioop_ratecv_impl(PyObject *module, Py_buffer *fragment, int width,
                 len = (Py_ssize_t)(ncp - PyBytes_AsString(str));
                 rv = PyBytes_FromStringAndSize
                     (PyBytes_AsString(str), len);
-                Py_DECREF(str);
-                str = rv;
+                Py_SETREF(str, rv);
                 if (str == NULL)
                     goto exit;
                 rv = Py_BuildValue("(O(iO))", str, d, samps);
diff --git a/Modules/cjkcodecs/multibytecodec.c b/Modules/cjkcodecs/multibytecodec.c
index 6d67fce1da0353..1d1bb18cee6c34 100644
--- a/Modules/cjkcodecs/multibytecodec.c
+++ b/Modules/cjkcodecs/multibytecodec.c
@@ -980,8 +980,7 @@ _multibytecodec_MultibyteIncrementalEncoder_setstate_impl(MultibyteIncrementalEn
         goto errorexit;
     }
 
-    Py_CLEAR(self->pending);
-    self->pending = pending;
+    Py_XSETREF(self->pending, pending);
     memcpy(self->state.c, statebytes+1+statebytes[0],
            sizeof(self->state.c));
 
@@ -1438,8 +1437,7 @@ mbstreamreader_iread(MultibyteStreamReaderObject *self,
             memcpy(ctrdata + self->pendingsize,
                     PyBytes_AS_STRING(cres),
                     PyBytes_GET_SIZE(cres));
-            Py_DECREF(cres);
-            cres = ctr;
+            Py_SETREF(cres, ctr);
             self->pendingsize = 0;
         }
 
@@ -1465,8 +1463,7 @@ mbstreamreader_iread(MultibyteStreamReaderObject *self,
                 goto errorexit;
         }
 
-        Py_DECREF(cres);
-        cres = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(cres);
 
         if (sizehint < 0 || buf.writer.pos != 0 || rsize == 0)
             break;
diff --git a/Modules/itertoolsmodule.c b/Modules/itertoolsmodule.c
index 65d01425052241..4b0a4d88c435c6 100644
--- a/Modules/itertoolsmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/itertoolsmodule.c
@@ -834,8 +834,7 @@ teedataobject_safe_decref(PyObject *obj)
            Py_REFCNT(obj) == 1) {
         PyObject *nextlink = ((teedataobject *)obj)->nextlink;
         ((teedataobject *)obj)->nextlink = NULL;
-        Py_DECREF(obj);
-        obj = nextlink;
+        Py_SETREF(obj, nextlink);
     }
     Py_XDECREF(obj);
 }
diff --git a/Modules/mathmodule.c b/Modules/mathmodule.c
index 16a2f45c8b84df..2e58f568ed8c88 100644
--- a/Modules/mathmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/mathmodule.c
@@ -2069,8 +2069,7 @@ factorial_odd_part(unsigned long n)
         Py_DECREF(partial);
         if (tmp == NULL)
             goto error;
-        Py_DECREF(inner);
-        inner = tmp;
+        Py_SETREF(inner, tmp);
         /* Now inner is the product of all odd integers j in the range (0,
            n/2**i], giving the inner product in the formula above. */
 
@@ -2078,8 +2077,7 @@ factorial_odd_part(unsigned long n)
         tmp = PyNumber_Multiply(outer, inner);
         if (tmp == NULL)
             goto error;
-        Py_DECREF(outer);
-        outer = tmp;
+        Py_SETREF(outer, tmp);
     }
     Py_DECREF(inner);
     return outer;
@@ -3154,8 +3152,7 @@ math_prod_impl(PyObject *module, PyObject *iterable, PyObject *start)
         long i_result = PyLong_AsLongAndOverflow(result, &overflow);
         /* If this already overflowed, don't even enter the loop. */
         if (overflow == 0) {
-            Py_DECREF(result);
-            result = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(result);
         }
         /* Loop over all the items in the iterable until we finish, we overflow
          * or we found a non integer element */
@@ -3202,8 +3199,7 @@ math_prod_impl(PyObject *module, PyObject *iterable, PyObject *start)
     */
     if (PyFloat_CheckExact(result)) {
         double f_result = PyFloat_AS_DOUBLE(result);
-        Py_DECREF(result);
-        result = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(result);
         while(result == NULL) {
             item = PyIter_Next(iter);
             if (item == NULL) {
@@ -3252,8 +3248,7 @@ math_prod_impl(PyObject *module, PyObject *iterable, PyObject *start)
         if (item == NULL) {
             /* error, or end-of-sequence */
             if (PyErr_Occurred()) {
-                Py_DECREF(result);
-                result = NULL;
+                Py_CLEAR(result);
             }
             break;
         }
diff --git a/Modules/nismodule.c b/Modules/nismodule.c
index 39b991162b2761..33bb168067b5c7 100644
--- a/Modules/nismodule.c
+++ b/Modules/nismodule.c
@@ -458,8 +458,7 @@ nis_maps (PyObject *module, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwdict)
         if (!str || PyList_Append(list, str) < 0)
         {
             Py_XDECREF(str);
-            Py_DECREF(list);
-            list = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(list);
             break;
         }
         Py_DECREF(str);
diff --git a/Modules/posixmodule.c b/Modules/posixmodule.c
index 5968c1940e76f4..8399aac9a35cdc 100644
--- a/Modules/posixmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/posixmodule.c
@@ -1190,8 +1190,7 @@ path_converter(PyObject *o, void *p)
         }
 
         /* still owns a reference to the original object */
-        Py_DECREF(o);
-        o = res;
+        Py_SETREF(o, res);
     }
 
     if (is_unicode) {
@@ -4025,14 +4024,12 @@ _listdir_windows_no_opendir(path_t *path, PyObject *list)
                 Py_SETREF(v, PyUnicode_EncodeFSDefault(v));
             }
             if (v == NULL) {
-                Py_DECREF(list);
-                list = NULL;
+                Py_CLEAR(list);
                 break;
             }
             if (PyList_Append(list, v) != 0) {
                 Py_DECREF(v);
-                Py_DECREF(list);
-                list = NULL;
+                Py_CLEAR(list);
                 break;
             }
             Py_DECREF(v);
@@ -13120,15 +13117,13 @@ os_listxattr_impl(PyObject *module, path_t *path, int follow_symlinks)
                 PyObject *attribute = PyUnicode_DecodeFSDefaultAndSize(start,
                                                                  trace - start);
                 if (!attribute) {
-                    Py_DECREF(result);
-                    result = NULL;
+                    Py_CLEAR(result);
                     goto exit;
                 }
                 error = PyList_Append(result, attribute);
                 Py_DECREF(attribute);
                 if (error) {
-                    Py_DECREF(result);
-                    result = NULL;
+                    Py_CLEAR(result);
                     goto exit;
                 }
                 start = trace + 1;
diff --git a/Objects/abstract.c b/Objects/abstract.c
index 8aa3fc17c6341b..deb2cc9ea5074c 100644
--- a/Objects/abstract.c
+++ b/Objects/abstract.c
@@ -806,8 +806,7 @@ PyObject_Format(PyObject *obj, PyObject *format_spec)
         PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
                      "__format__ must return a str, not %.200s",
                      Py_TYPE(result)->tp_name);
-        Py_DECREF(result);
-        result = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(result);
         goto done;
     }
 
@@ -2791,8 +2790,7 @@ PyObject_GetIter(PyObject *o)
                          "iter() returned non-iterator "
                          "of type '%.100s'",
                          Py_TYPE(res)->tp_name);
-            Py_DECREF(res);
-            res = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(res);
         }
         return res;
     }
@@ -2812,8 +2810,7 @@ PyObject_GetAIter(PyObject *o) {
         PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
                      "aiter() returned not an async iterator of type '%.100s'",
                      Py_TYPE(it)->tp_name);
-        Py_DECREF(it);
-        it = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(it);
     }
     return it;
 }
diff --git a/Objects/bytesobject.c b/Objects/bytesobject.c
index 91c89bbd9005a7..a63f396e022f71 100644
--- a/Objects/bytesobject.c
+++ b/Objects/bytesobject.c
@@ -2109,9 +2109,7 @@ bytes_translate_impl(PyBytesObject *self, PyObject *table,
                 changed = 1;
         }
         if (!changed && PyBytes_CheckExact(input_obj)) {
-            Py_INCREF(input_obj);
-            Py_DECREF(result);
-            result = input_obj;
+            Py_SETREF(result, Py_NewRef(input_obj));
         }
         PyBuffer_Release(&del_table_view);
         PyBuffer_Release(&table_view);
diff --git a/Objects/capsule.c b/Objects/capsule.c
index 606e50e6961133..baaddb3f1f0849 100644
--- a/Objects/capsule.c
+++ b/Objects/capsule.c
@@ -220,8 +220,7 @@ PyCapsule_Import(const char *name, int no_block)
             }
         } else {
             PyObject *object2 = PyObject_GetAttrString(object, trace);
-            Py_DECREF(object);
-            object = object2;
+            Py_SETREF(object, object2);
         }
         if (!object) {
             goto EXIT;
diff --git a/Objects/classobject.c b/Objects/classobject.c
index eedf8f0e1e1acf..7b7e78387f08ee 100644
--- a/Objects/classobject.c
+++ b/Objects/classobject.c
@@ -283,8 +283,7 @@ method_repr(PyMethodObject *a)
     }
 
     if (funcname != NULL && !PyUnicode_Check(funcname)) {
-        Py_DECREF(funcname);
-        funcname = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(funcname);
     }
 
     /* XXX Shouldn't use repr()/%R here! */
@@ -484,8 +483,7 @@ instancemethod_repr(PyObject *self)
         return NULL;
     }
     if (funcname != NULL && !PyUnicode_Check(funcname)) {
-        Py_DECREF(funcname);
-        funcname = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(funcname);
     }
 
     result = PyUnicode_FromFormat("<instancemethod %V at %p>",
diff --git a/Objects/descrobject.c b/Objects/descrobject.c
index 550bfb36df0f66..86ff801ddc77e3 100644
--- a/Objects/descrobject.c
+++ b/Objects/descrobject.c
@@ -906,8 +906,7 @@ descr_new(PyTypeObject *descrtype, PyTypeObject *type, const char *name)
         descr->d_type = (PyTypeObject*)Py_XNewRef(type);
         descr->d_name = PyUnicode_InternFromString(name);
         if (descr->d_name == NULL) {
-            Py_DECREF(descr);
-            descr = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(descr);
         }
         else {
             descr->d_qualname = NULL;
diff --git a/Objects/fileobject.c b/Objects/fileobject.c
index ab67cd23cef3b3..56219a8ad6fa0d 100644
--- a/Objects/fileobject.c
+++ b/Objects/fileobject.c
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@ PyFile_GetLine(PyObject *f, int n)
     }
     if (result != NULL && !PyBytes_Check(result) &&
         !PyUnicode_Check(result)) {
-        Py_DECREF(result);
-        result = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(result);
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
                    "object.readline() returned non-string");
     }
@@ -77,8 +76,7 @@ PyFile_GetLine(PyObject *f, int n)
         const char *s = PyBytes_AS_STRING(result);
         Py_ssize_t len = PyBytes_GET_SIZE(result);
         if (len == 0) {
-            Py_DECREF(result);
-            result = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(result);
             PyErr_SetString(PyExc_EOFError,
                             "EOF when reading a line");
         }
@@ -88,24 +86,21 @@ PyFile_GetLine(PyObject *f, int n)
             else {
                 PyObject *v;
                 v = PyBytes_FromStringAndSize(s, len-1);
-                Py_DECREF(result);
-                result = v;
+                Py_SETREF(result, v);
             }
         }
     }
     if (n < 0 && result != NULL && PyUnicode_Check(result)) {
         Py_ssize_t len = PyUnicode_GET_LENGTH(result);
         if (len == 0) {
-            Py_DECREF(result);
-            result = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(result);
             PyErr_SetString(PyExc_EOFError,
                             "EOF when reading a line");
         }
         else if (PyUnicode_READ_CHAR(result, len-1) == '\n') {
             PyObject *v;
             v = PyUnicode_Substring(result, 0, len-1);
-            Py_DECREF(result);
-            result = v;
+            Py_SETREF(result, v);
         }
     }
     return result;
diff --git a/Objects/floatobject.c b/Objects/floatobject.c
index 46016e946ad344..912b742f797d24 100644
--- a/Objects/floatobject.c
+++ b/Objects/floatobject.c
@@ -531,20 +531,17 @@ float_richcompare(PyObject *v, PyObject *w, int op)
                 temp = _PyLong_Lshift(ww, 1);
                 if (temp == NULL)
                     goto Error;
-                Py_DECREF(ww);
-                ww = temp;
+                Py_SETREF(ww, temp);
 
                 temp = _PyLong_Lshift(vv, 1);
                 if (temp == NULL)
                     goto Error;
-                Py_DECREF(vv);
-                vv = temp;
+                Py_SETREF(vv, temp);
 
                 temp = PyNumber_Or(vv, _PyLong_GetOne());
                 if (temp == NULL)
                     goto Error;
-                Py_DECREF(vv);
-                vv = temp;
+                Py_SETREF(vv, temp);
             }
 
             r = PyObject_RichCompareBool(vv, ww, op);
diff --git a/Objects/genobject.c b/Objects/genobject.c
index 6661e3fb9461a4..c006f1af2177f9 100644
--- a/Objects/genobject.c
+++ b/Objects/genobject.c
@@ -491,8 +491,7 @@ _gen_throw(PyGenObject *gen, int close_on_genexit,
         }
         else {
             /* Normalize to raise <class>, <instance> */
-            Py_XDECREF(val);
-            val = typ;
+            Py_XSETREF(val, typ);
             typ = Py_NewRef(PyExceptionInstance_Class(typ));
 
             if (tb == NULL)
diff --git a/Objects/longobject.c b/Objects/longobject.c
index bb9e40f862aa11..f4bd981e4b9870 100644
--- a/Objects/longobject.c
+++ b/Objects/longobject.c
@@ -2598,8 +2598,7 @@ long_from_non_binary_base(const char *start, const char *end, Py_ssize_t digits,
                 memcpy(tmp->ob_digit,
                        z->ob_digit,
                        sizeof(digit) * size_z);
-                Py_DECREF(z);
-                z = tmp;
+                Py_SETREF(z, tmp);
                 z->ob_digit[size_z] = (digit)c;
                 ++size_z;
             }
@@ -4140,8 +4139,7 @@ l_divmod(PyLongObject *v, PyLongObject *w,
         (Py_SIZE(mod) > 0 && Py_SIZE(w) < 0)) {
         PyLongObject *temp;
         temp = (PyLongObject *) long_add(mod, w);
-        Py_DECREF(mod);
-        mod = temp;
+        Py_SETREF(mod, temp);
         if (mod == NULL) {
             Py_DECREF(div);
             return -1;
@@ -4152,8 +4150,7 @@ l_divmod(PyLongObject *v, PyLongObject *w,
             Py_DECREF(div);
             return -1;
         }
-        Py_DECREF(div);
-        div = temp;
+        Py_SETREF(div, temp);
     }
     if (pdiv != NULL)
         *pdiv = div;
@@ -4189,8 +4186,7 @@ l_mod(PyLongObject *v, PyLongObject *w, PyLongObject **pmod)
         (Py_SIZE(mod) > 0 && Py_SIZE(w) < 0)) {
         PyLongObject *temp;
         temp = (PyLongObject *) long_add(mod, w);
-        Py_DECREF(mod);
-        mod = temp;
+        Py_SETREF(mod, temp);
         if (mod == NULL)
             return -1;
     }
@@ -4430,8 +4426,7 @@ long_true_divide(PyObject *v, PyObject *w)
     else {
         PyLongObject *div, *rem;
         div = x_divrem(x, b, &rem);
-        Py_DECREF(x);
-        x = div;
+        Py_SETREF(x, div);
         if (x == NULL)
             goto error;
         if (Py_SIZE(rem))
@@ -4561,8 +4556,7 @@ long_invmod(PyLongObject *a, PyLongObject *n)
         if (l_divmod(a, n, &q, &r) == -1) {
             goto Error;
         }
-        Py_DECREF(a);
-        a = n;
+        Py_SETREF(a, n);
         n = r;
         t = (PyLongObject *)long_mul(q, c);
         Py_DECREF(q);
@@ -4574,8 +4568,7 @@ long_invmod(PyLongObject *a, PyLongObject *n)
         if (s == NULL) {
             goto Error;
         }
-        Py_DECREF(b);
-        b = c;
+        Py_SETREF(b, c);
         c = s;
     }
     /* references now owned: a, b, c, n */
@@ -4670,8 +4663,7 @@ long_pow(PyObject *v, PyObject *w, PyObject *x)
             temp = (PyLongObject *)_PyLong_Copy(c);
             if (temp == NULL)
                 goto Error;
-            Py_DECREF(c);
-            c = temp;
+            Py_SETREF(c, temp);
             temp = NULL;
             _PyLong_Negate(&c);
             if (c == NULL)
@@ -4691,8 +4683,7 @@ long_pow(PyObject *v, PyObject *w, PyObject *x)
             temp = (PyLongObject *)_PyLong_Copy(b);
             if (temp == NULL)
                 goto Error;
-            Py_DECREF(b);
-            b = temp;
+            Py_SETREF(b, temp);
             temp = NULL;
             _PyLong_Negate(&b);
             if (b == NULL)
@@ -4701,8 +4692,7 @@ long_pow(PyObject *v, PyObject *w, PyObject *x)
             temp = long_invmod(a, c);
             if (temp == NULL)
                 goto Error;
-            Py_DECREF(a);
-            a = temp;
+            Py_SETREF(a, temp);
             temp = NULL;
         }
 
@@ -4718,8 +4708,7 @@ long_pow(PyObject *v, PyObject *w, PyObject *x)
         if (Py_SIZE(a) < 0 || Py_SIZE(a) > Py_SIZE(c)) {
             if (l_mod(a, c, &temp) < 0)
                 goto Error;
-            Py_DECREF(a);
-            a = temp;
+            Py_SETREF(a, temp);
             temp = NULL;
         }
     }
@@ -4786,9 +4775,7 @@ long_pow(PyObject *v, PyObject *w, PyObject *x)
          * because we're primarily trying to cut overhead for small powers.
          */
         assert(bi);  /* else there is no significant bit */
-        Py_INCREF(a);
-        Py_DECREF(z);
-        z = a;
+        Py_SETREF(z, Py_NewRef(a));
         for (bit = 2; ; bit <<= 1) {
             if (bit > bi) { /* found the first bit */
                 assert((bi & bit) == 0);
@@ -4874,8 +4861,7 @@ long_pow(PyObject *v, PyObject *w, PyObject *x)
         temp = (PyLongObject *)long_sub(z, c);
         if (temp == NULL)
             goto Error;
-        Py_DECREF(z);
-        z = temp;
+        Py_SETREF(z, temp);
         temp = NULL;
     }
     goto Done;
@@ -5444,8 +5430,7 @@ _PyLong_GCD(PyObject *aarg, PyObject *barg)
             /* no progress; do a Euclidean step */
             if (l_mod(a, b, &r) < 0)
                 goto error;
-            Py_DECREF(a);
-            a = b;
+            Py_SETREF(a, b);
             b = r;
             alloc_a = alloc_b;
             alloc_b = Py_SIZE(b);
@@ -5766,8 +5751,7 @@ _PyLong_DivmodNear(PyObject *a, PyObject *b)
         goto error;
     if (quo_is_neg) {
         temp = long_neg((PyLongObject*)twice_rem);
-        Py_DECREF(twice_rem);
-        twice_rem = temp;
+        Py_SETREF(twice_rem, temp);
         if (twice_rem == NULL)
             goto error;
     }
@@ -5781,8 +5765,7 @@ _PyLong_DivmodNear(PyObject *a, PyObject *b)
             temp = long_sub(quo, (PyLongObject *)one);
         else
             temp = long_add(quo, (PyLongObject *)one);
-        Py_DECREF(quo);
-        quo = (PyLongObject *)temp;
+        Py_SETREF(quo, (PyLongObject *)temp);
         if (quo == NULL)
             goto error;
         /* and remainder */
@@ -5790,8 +5773,7 @@ _PyLong_DivmodNear(PyObject *a, PyObject *b)
             temp = long_add(rem, (PyLongObject *)b);
         else
             temp = long_sub(rem, (PyLongObject *)b);
-        Py_DECREF(rem);
-        rem = (PyLongObject *)temp;
+        Py_SETREF(rem, (PyLongObject *)temp);
         if (rem == NULL)
             goto error;
     }
@@ -5857,8 +5839,7 @@ int___round___impl(PyObject *self, PyObject *o_ndigits)
 
     /* result = self - divmod_near(self, 10 ** -ndigits)[1] */
     temp = long_neg((PyLongObject*)ndigits);
-    Py_DECREF(ndigits);
-    ndigits = temp;
+    Py_SETREF(ndigits, temp);
     if (ndigits == NULL)
         return NULL;
 
@@ -5870,21 +5851,18 @@ int___round___impl(PyObject *self, PyObject *o_ndigits)
 
     temp = long_pow(result, ndigits, Py_None);
     Py_DECREF(ndigits);
-    Py_DECREF(result);
-    result = temp;
+    Py_SETREF(result, temp);
     if (result == NULL)
         return NULL;
 
     temp = _PyLong_DivmodNear(self, result);
-    Py_DECREF(result);
-    result = temp;
+    Py_SETREF(result, temp);
     if (result == NULL)
         return NULL;
 
     temp = long_sub((PyLongObject *)self,
                     (PyLongObject *)PyTuple_GET_ITEM(result, 1));
-    Py_DECREF(result);
-    result = temp;
+    Py_SETREF(result, temp);
 
     return result;
 }
@@ -5949,8 +5927,7 @@ int_bit_length_impl(PyObject *self)
     Py_DECREF(x);
     if (y == NULL)
         goto error;
-    Py_DECREF(result);
-    result = y;
+    Py_SETREF(result, y);
 
     x = (PyLongObject *)PyLong_FromLong((long)msd_bits);
     if (x == NULL)
@@ -5959,8 +5936,7 @@ int_bit_length_impl(PyObject *self)
     Py_DECREF(x);
     if (y == NULL)
         goto error;
-    Py_DECREF(result);
-    result = y;
+    Py_SETREF(result, y);
 
     return (PyObject *)result;
 
@@ -6026,8 +6002,7 @@ int_bit_count_impl(PyObject *self)
         if (y == NULL) {
             goto error;
         }
-        Py_DECREF(result);
-        result = y;
+        Py_SETREF(result, y);
     }
 
     return result;
diff --git a/Objects/setobject.c b/Objects/setobject.c
index e0646768384a88..ae9e9b99446116 100644
--- a/Objects/setobject.c
+++ b/Objects/setobject.c
@@ -1270,8 +1270,7 @@ set_intersection_multi(PySetObject *so, PyObject *args)
             Py_DECREF(result);
             return NULL;
         }
-        Py_DECREF(result);
-        result = newresult;
+        Py_SETREF(result, newresult);
     }
     return result;
 }
diff --git a/Objects/sliceobject.c b/Objects/sliceobject.c
index 1da1df3090721f..5694bd9c661fa5 100644
--- a/Objects/sliceobject.c
+++ b/Objects/sliceobject.c
@@ -448,8 +448,7 @@ _PySlice_GetLongIndices(PySliceObject *self, PyObject *length,
         if (_PyLong_Sign(start) < 0) {
             /* start += length */
             PyObject *tmp = PyNumber_Add(start, length);
-            Py_DECREF(start);
-            start = tmp;
+            Py_SETREF(start, tmp);
             if (start == NULL)
                 goto error;
 
@@ -457,9 +456,7 @@ _PySlice_GetLongIndices(PySliceObject *self, PyObject *length,
             if (cmp_result < 0)
                 goto error;
             if (cmp_result) {
-                Py_INCREF(lower);
-                Py_DECREF(start);
-                start = lower;
+                Py_SETREF(start, Py_NewRef(lower));
             }
         }
         else {
@@ -467,9 +464,7 @@ _PySlice_GetLongIndices(PySliceObject *self, PyObject *length,
             if (cmp_result < 0)
                 goto error;
             if (cmp_result) {
-                Py_INCREF(upper);
-                Py_DECREF(start);
-                start = upper;
+                Py_SETREF(start, Py_NewRef(upper));
             }
         }
     }
@@ -486,8 +481,7 @@ _PySlice_GetLongIndices(PySliceObject *self, PyObject *length,
         if (_PyLong_Sign(stop) < 0) {
             /* stop += length */
             PyObject *tmp = PyNumber_Add(stop, length);
-            Py_DECREF(stop);
-            stop = tmp;
+            Py_SETREF(stop, tmp);
             if (stop == NULL)
                 goto error;
 
@@ -495,9 +489,7 @@ _PySlice_GetLongIndices(PySliceObject *self, PyObject *length,
             if (cmp_result < 0)
                 goto error;
             if (cmp_result) {
-                Py_INCREF(lower);
-                Py_DECREF(stop);
-                stop = lower;
+                Py_SETREF(stop, Py_NewRef(lower));
             }
         }
         else {
@@ -505,9 +497,7 @@ _PySlice_GetLongIndices(PySliceObject *self, PyObject *length,
             if (cmp_result < 0)
                 goto error;
             if (cmp_result) {
-                Py_INCREF(upper);
-                Py_DECREF(stop);
-                stop = upper;
+                Py_SETREF(stop, Py_NewRef(upper));
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/Objects/stringlib/unicode_format.h b/Objects/stringlib/unicode_format.h
index e970588a7e34bc..ccd7c77c0a03fd 100644
--- a/Objects/stringlib/unicode_format.h
+++ b/Objects/stringlib/unicode_format.h
@@ -473,8 +473,7 @@ get_field_object(SubString *input, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs,
             goto error;
 
         /* assign to obj */
-        Py_DECREF(obj);
-        obj = tmp;
+        Py_SETREF(obj, tmp);
     }
     /* end of iterator, this is the non-error case */
     if (ok == 1)
@@ -825,8 +824,7 @@ output_markup(SubString *field_name, SubString *format_spec,
             goto done;
 
         /* do the assignment, transferring ownership: fieldobj = tmp */
-        Py_DECREF(fieldobj);
-        fieldobj = tmp;
+        Py_SETREF(fieldobj, tmp);
         tmp = NULL;
     }
 
diff --git a/Objects/typeobject.c b/Objects/typeobject.c
index 1e58d32f496205..313ca2a2d8b920 100644
--- a/Objects/typeobject.c
+++ b/Objects/typeobject.c
@@ -1212,8 +1212,7 @@ type_repr(PyTypeObject *type)
     if (mod == NULL)
         PyErr_Clear();
     else if (!PyUnicode_Check(mod)) {
-        Py_DECREF(mod);
-        mod = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(mod);
     }
     name = type_qualname(type, NULL);
     if (name == NULL) {
@@ -1287,8 +1286,7 @@ type_call(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
         int res = type->tp_init(obj, args, kwds);
         if (res < 0) {
             assert(_PyErr_Occurred(tstate));
-            Py_DECREF(obj);
-            obj = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(obj);
         }
         else {
             assert(!_PyErr_Occurred(tstate));
@@ -5006,8 +5004,7 @@ object_repr(PyObject *self)
     if (mod == NULL)
         PyErr_Clear();
     else if (!PyUnicode_Check(mod)) {
-        Py_DECREF(mod);
-        mod = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(mod);
     }
     name = type_qualname(type, NULL);
     if (name == NULL) {
@@ -5967,8 +5964,7 @@ object___dir___impl(PyObject *self)
     else {
         /* Copy __dict__ to avoid mutating it. */
         PyObject *temp = PyDict_Copy(dict);
-        Py_DECREF(dict);
-        dict = temp;
+        Py_SETREF(dict, temp);
     }
 
     if (dict == NULL)
@@ -8107,8 +8103,7 @@ slot_tp_hash(PyObject *self)
     func = lookup_maybe_method(self, &_Py_ID(__hash__), &unbound);
 
     if (func == Py_None) {
-        Py_DECREF(func);
-        func = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(func);
     }
 
     if (func == NULL) {
@@ -9376,8 +9371,7 @@ super_getattro(PyObject *self, PyObject *name)
                        (See SF ID #743627)  */
                     (su->obj == (PyObject *)starttype) ? NULL : su->obj,
                     (PyObject *)starttype);
-                Py_DECREF(res);
-                res = res2;
+                Py_SETREF(res, res2);
             }
 
             Py_DECREF(mro);
diff --git a/Objects/unicodeobject.c b/Objects/unicodeobject.c
index b1acfc71379cd5..55f029dd504ca0 100644
--- a/Objects/unicodeobject.c
+++ b/Objects/unicodeobject.c
@@ -13572,8 +13572,7 @@ _PyUnicode_FormatLong(PyObject *val, int alt, int prec, int type)
         for (i = 0; i < numdigits; i++)
             *b1++ = *buf++;
         *b1 = '\0';
-        Py_DECREF(result);
-        result = r1;
+        Py_SETREF(result, r1);
         buf = PyBytes_AS_STRING(result);
         len = numnondigits + prec;
     }
@@ -13590,8 +13589,7 @@ _PyUnicode_FormatLong(PyObject *val, int alt, int prec, int type)
         || buf != PyUnicode_DATA(result)) {
         PyObject *unicode;
         unicode = _PyUnicode_FromASCII(buf, len);
-        Py_DECREF(result);
-        result = unicode;
+        Py_SETREF(result, unicode);
     }
     else if (len != PyUnicode_GET_LENGTH(result)) {
         if (PyUnicode_Resize(&result, len) < 0)
diff --git a/Objects/weakrefobject.c b/Objects/weakrefobject.c
index ff284c882b0f1c..bd7720e2753307 100644
--- a/Objects/weakrefobject.c
+++ b/Objects/weakrefobject.c
@@ -824,8 +824,7 @@ PyWeakref_NewRef(PyObject *ob, PyObject *callback)
                        during GC.  Return that one instead of this one
                        to avoid violating the invariants of the list
                        of weakrefs for ob. */
-                    Py_DECREF(result);
-                    result = (PyWeakReference*)Py_NewRef(ref);
+                    Py_SETREF(result, (PyWeakReference*)Py_NewRef(ref));
                 }
             }
             else {
@@ -888,8 +887,7 @@ PyWeakref_NewProxy(PyObject *ob, PyObject *callback)
                        during GC.  Return that one instead of this one
                        to avoid violating the invariants of the list
                        of weakrefs for ob. */
-                    Py_DECREF(result);
-                    result = (PyWeakReference*)Py_NewRef(proxy);
+                    Py_SETREF(result, (PyWeakReference*)Py_NewRef(proxy));
                     goto skip_insert;
                 }
                 prev = ref;
diff --git a/Python/_warnings.c b/Python/_warnings.c
index d703e1e6d843a5..046c37eb49bac0 100644
--- a/Python/_warnings.c
+++ b/Python/_warnings.c
@@ -801,8 +801,7 @@ next_external_frame(PyFrameObject *frame)
 {
     do {
         PyFrameObject *back = PyFrame_GetBack(frame);
-        Py_DECREF(frame);
-        frame = back;
+        Py_SETREF(frame, back);
     } while (frame != NULL && is_internal_frame(frame));
 
     return frame;
@@ -828,8 +827,7 @@ setup_context(Py_ssize_t stack_level, PyObject **filename, int *lineno,
     if (stack_level <= 0 || is_internal_frame(f)) {
         while (--stack_level > 0 && f != NULL) {
             PyFrameObject *back = PyFrame_GetBack(f);
-            Py_DECREF(f);
-            f = back;
+            Py_SETREF(f, back);
         }
     }
     else {
diff --git a/Python/bltinmodule.c b/Python/bltinmodule.c
index 119e21ae0da290..abf6803a7a2a36 100644
--- a/Python/bltinmodule.c
+++ b/Python/bltinmodule.c
@@ -168,8 +168,7 @@ builtin___build_class__(PyObject *self, PyObject *const *args, Py_ssize_t nargs,
             goto error;
         }
         if (winner != meta) {
-            Py_DECREF(meta);
-            meta = Py_NewRef(winner);
+            Py_SETREF(meta, Py_NewRef(winner));
         }
     }
     /* else: meta is not a class, so we cannot do the metaclass
@@ -219,8 +218,7 @@ builtin___build_class__(PyObject *self, PyObject *const *args, Py_ssize_t nargs,
                         "__class__ set to %.200R defining %.200R as %.200R";
                     PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError, msg, cell_cls, name, cls);
                 }
-                Py_DECREF(cls);
-                cls = NULL;
+                Py_CLEAR(cls);
                 goto error;
             }
         }
@@ -2484,8 +2482,7 @@ builtin_sum_impl(PyObject *module, PyObject *iterable, PyObject *start)
         long i_result = PyLong_AsLongAndOverflow(result, &overflow);
         /* If this already overflowed, don't even enter the loop. */
         if (overflow == 0) {
-            Py_DECREF(result);
-            result = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(result);
         }
         while(result == NULL) {
             item = PyIter_Next(iter);
@@ -2535,8 +2532,7 @@ builtin_sum_impl(PyObject *module, PyObject *iterable, PyObject *start)
 
     if (PyFloat_CheckExact(result)) {
         double f_result = PyFloat_AS_DOUBLE(result);
-        Py_DECREF(result);
-        result = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(result);
         while(result == NULL) {
             item = PyIter_Next(iter);
             if (item == NULL) {
@@ -2583,8 +2579,7 @@ builtin_sum_impl(PyObject *module, PyObject *iterable, PyObject *start)
         if (item == NULL) {
             /* error, or end-of-sequence */
             if (PyErr_Occurred()) {
-                Py_DECREF(result);
-                result = NULL;
+                Py_CLEAR(result);
             }
             break;
         }
diff --git a/Python/compile.c b/Python/compile.c
index 9226bc233ead74..366321143a54aa 100644
--- a/Python/compile.c
+++ b/Python/compile.c
@@ -8280,9 +8280,7 @@ merge_const_one(PyObject *const_cache, PyObject **obj)
         t = PyTuple_GET_ITEM(t, 1);
     }
 
-    Py_INCREF(t);
-    Py_DECREF(*obj);
-    *obj = t;
+    Py_SETREF(*obj, Py_NewRef(t));
     return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/Python/errors.c b/Python/errors.c
index d74ac347484fed..3bce8c197d9130 100644
--- a/Python/errors.c
+++ b/Python/errors.c
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@ _PyErr_Restore(PyThreadState *tstate, PyObject *type, PyObject *value,
     if (traceback != NULL && !PyTraceBack_Check(traceback)) {
         /* XXX Should never happen -- fatal error instead? */
         /* Well, it could be None. */
-        Py_DECREF(traceback);
-        traceback = NULL;
+        Py_CLEAR(traceback);
     }
 
     /* Save these in locals to safeguard against recursive
@@ -353,16 +352,13 @@ _PyErr_NormalizeException(PyThreadState *tstate, PyObject **exc,
             if (fixed_value == NULL) {
                 goto error;
             }
-            Py_DECREF(value);
-            value = fixed_value;
+            Py_SETREF(value, fixed_value);
         }
         /* If the class of the instance doesn't exactly match the
            class of the type, believe the instance.
         */
         else if (inclass != type) {
-            Py_INCREF(inclass);
-            Py_DECREF(type);
-            type = inclass;
+            Py_SETREF(type, Py_NewRef(inclass));
         }
     }
     *exc = type;
diff --git a/Python/hamt.c b/Python/hamt.c
index c4e47eb9e5703a..8cb94641bef251 100644
--- a/Python/hamt.c
+++ b/Python/hamt.c
@@ -1354,8 +1354,7 @@ hamt_node_collision_assoc(PyHamtNode_Collision *self,
                 }
 
                 /* Replace the old value with the new value for the our key. */
-                Py_DECREF(new_node->c_array[val_idx]);
-                new_node->c_array[val_idx] = Py_NewRef(val);
+                Py_SETREF(new_node->c_array[val_idx], Py_NewRef(val));
 
                 return (PyHamtNode *)new_node;
 
diff --git a/Python/marshal.c b/Python/marshal.c
index 86cf57daa77025..904dd694fafc98 100644
--- a/Python/marshal.c
+++ b/Python/marshal.c
@@ -1217,8 +1217,7 @@ r_object(RFILE *p)
                 if (!PyErr_Occurred())
                     PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
                         "NULL object in marshal data for tuple");
-                Py_DECREF(v);
-                v = NULL;
+                Py_CLEAR(v);
                 break;
             }
             PyTuple_SET_ITEM(v, i, v2);
@@ -1244,8 +1243,7 @@ r_object(RFILE *p)
                 if (!PyErr_Occurred())
                     PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
                         "NULL object in marshal data for list");
-                Py_DECREF(v);
-                v = NULL;
+                Py_CLEAR(v);
                 break;
             }
             PyList_SET_ITEM(v, i, v2);
@@ -1277,8 +1275,7 @@ r_object(RFILE *p)
             Py_DECREF(val);
         }
         if (PyErr_Occurred()) {
-            Py_DECREF(v);
-            v = NULL;
+            Py_CLEAR(v);
         }
         retval = v;
         break;
@@ -1322,8 +1319,7 @@ r_object(RFILE *p)
                     if (!PyErr_Occurred())
                         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
                             "NULL object in marshal data for set");
-                    Py_DECREF(v);
-                    v = NULL;
+                    Py_CLEAR(v);
                     break;
                 }
                 if (PySet_Add(v, v2) == -1) {
diff --git a/Python/pythonrun.c b/Python/pythonrun.c
index 70872222eb6458..35292b6478a833 100644
--- a/Python/pythonrun.c
+++ b/Python/pythonrun.c
@@ -718,8 +718,7 @@ _Py_HandleSystemExit(int *exitcode_p)
         /* The error code should be in the `code' attribute. */
         PyObject *code = PyObject_GetAttr(value, &_Py_ID(code));
         if (code) {
-            Py_DECREF(value);
-            value = code;
+            Py_SETREF(value, code);
             if (value == Py_None)
                 goto done;
         }
diff --git a/Python/sysmodule.c b/Python/sysmodule.c
index 6f0a126a62277b..88f806e616f27e 100644
--- a/Python/sysmodule.c
+++ b/Python/sysmodule.c
@@ -198,8 +198,7 @@ sys_audit_tstate(PyThreadState *ts, const char *event,
         eventArgs = _Py_VaBuildValue_SizeT(argFormat, vargs);
         if (eventArgs && !PyTuple_Check(eventArgs)) {
             PyObject *argTuple = PyTuple_Pack(1, eventArgs);
-            Py_DECREF(eventArgs);
-            eventArgs = argTuple;
+            Py_SETREF(eventArgs, argTuple);
         }
     }
     else {
diff --git a/Python/traceback.c b/Python/traceback.c
index 356e64364832aa..da26c9b260a3bd 100644
--- a/Python/traceback.c
+++ b/Python/traceback.c
@@ -136,9 +136,7 @@ tb_next_set(PyTracebackObject *self, PyObject *new_next, void *Py_UNUSED(_))
         cursor = cursor->tb_next;
     }
 
-    PyObject *old_next = (PyObject*)self->tb_next;
-    self->tb_next = (PyTracebackObject *)Py_XNewRef(new_next);
-    Py_XDECREF(old_next);
+    Py_XSETREF(self->tb_next, (PyTracebackObject *)Py_XNewRef(new_next));
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -533,8 +531,7 @@ display_source_line_with_margin(PyObject *f, PyObject *filename, int lineno, int
         PyObject *truncated;
         truncated = PyUnicode_Substring(lineobj, i, PyUnicode_GET_LENGTH(lineobj));
         if (truncated) {
-            Py_DECREF(lineobj);
-            lineobj = truncated;
+            Py_SETREF(lineobj, truncated);
         } else {
             PyErr_Clear();
         }