diff --git a/Lib/test/test_fstring.py b/Lib/test/test_fstring.py
index a0fae50d1720745..3484fcecf1c5e2b 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_fstring.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_fstring.py
@@ -1148,6 +1148,8 @@ def __repr__(self):
         self.assertEqual(f'{C()=:x}', 'C()=FORMAT-x')
         self.assertEqual(f'{C()=!r:*^20}', 'C()=********REPR********')
 
+        self.assertRaises(SyntaxError, eval, "f'{C=]'")
+
     def test_walrus(self):
         x = 20
         # This isn't an assignment expression, it's 'x', with a format
diff --git a/Python/ast.c b/Python/ast.c
index 585f8b3fba4cdce..03da4e7f7f9affe 100644
--- a/Python/ast.c
+++ b/Python/ast.c
@@ -5283,7 +5283,6 @@ fstring_find_expr(const char **str, const char *end, int raw, int recurse_lvl,
     /* Falls through to error. */
 
 error:
-    Py_XDECREF(expr_text);
     return -1;
 
 }