diff --git a/Modules/_io/winconsoleio.c b/Modules/_io/winconsoleio.c
index 677d7e85d4e626..4a3fc586fa3a14 100644
--- a/Modules/_io/winconsoleio.c
+++ b/Modules/_io/winconsoleio.c
@@ -673,12 +673,13 @@ read_console_w(HANDLE handle, DWORD maxlen, DWORD *readlen) {
             maxlen += 1;
             Py_BLOCK_THREADS
             newbuf = (wchar_t*)PyMem_Realloc(buf, maxlen * sizeof(wchar_t));
-            Py_UNBLOCK_THREADS
             if (!newbuf) {
                 sig = -1;
                 PyErr_NoMemory();
+                Py_UNBLOCK_THREADS
                 break;
             }
+            Py_UNBLOCK_THREADS
             buf = newbuf;
             /* Only advance by n and not BUFSIZ in this case */
             off += n;