diff --git a/python/handle.c b/python/handle.c
index bf639b578..8eeabe60a 100644
--- a/python/handle.c
+++ b/python/handle.c
@@ -139,7 +139,6 @@ guestfs_int_py_event_callback_wrapper (guestfs_h *g,
     goto out;
   }
 
-  Py_INCREF (args);
   py_r = PyObject_CallObject (py_callback, args);
   Py_DECREF (args);
   if (py_r != NULL)