diff --git a/python/handle.c b/python/handle.c
index 8eeabe60a..85089e6bc 100644
--- a/python/handle.c
+++ b/python/handle.c
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ guestfs_int_py_event_callback_wrapper (guestfs_h *g,
   args = Py_BuildValue ("(Kiy#O)",
                         (unsigned PY_LONG_LONG) event, event_handle,
                         buf, buf_len, py_array);
+  Py_DECREF (py_array);
   if (args == NULL) {
     PyErr_PrintEx (0);
     goto out;