diff --git a/src/main/exception.c b/src/main/exception.c
index d1dcd5ec7..4f9a7ab0d 100644
--- a/src/main/exception.c
+++ b/src/main/exception.c
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ PyObject *AerospikeException_New(void)
 
         PyObject *py_code = NULL;
         if (exception_def.code == NO_ERROR_CODE) {
+            Py_INCREF(Py_None);
             py_code = Py_None;
         }
         else {