diff --git a/python/pyarrow/src/arrow/python/common.cc b/python/pyarrow/src/arrow/python/common.cc
index a6d963b9b4e4..2009f0925906 100644
--- a/python/pyarrow/src/arrow/python/common.cc
+++ b/python/pyarrow/src/arrow/python/common.cc
@@ -236,7 +236,8 @@ Result<std::shared_ptr<Buffer>> PyBuffer::FromPyObject(PyObject* obj) {
 }
 
 PyBuffer::~PyBuffer() {
-  if (data_ != nullptr) {
+  // GH-38626: destructor may be called after the Python interpreter is finalized.
+  if (Py_IsInitialized() && data_ != nullptr) {
     PyAcquireGIL lock;
     PyBuffer_Release(&py_buf_);
   }
diff --git a/python/pyarrow/src/arrow/python/numpy_convert.cc b/python/pyarrow/src/arrow/python/numpy_convert.cc
index 4113cc67d2fc..fbbfccc871cb 100644
--- a/python/pyarrow/src/arrow/python/numpy_convert.cc
+++ b/python/pyarrow/src/arrow/python/numpy_convert.cc
@@ -53,8 +53,11 @@ NumPyBuffer::NumPyBuffer(PyObject* ao) : Buffer(nullptr, 0) {
 }
 
 NumPyBuffer::~NumPyBuffer() {
-  PyAcquireGIL lock;
-  Py_XDECREF(arr_);
+  // GH-38626: destructor may be called after the Python interpreter is finalized.
+  if (Py_IsInitialized()) {
+    PyAcquireGIL lock;
+    Py_XDECREF(arr_);
+  }
 }
 
 #define TO_ARROW_TYPE_CASE(NPY_NAME, FACTORY) \