diff --git a/Lib/ssl.py b/Lib/ssl.py
index bd9ba346dae8cc..4ccccdeba2a55b 100644
--- a/Lib/ssl.py
+++ b/Lib/ssl.py
@@ -1048,7 +1048,11 @@ def _create(cls, sock, server_side=False, do_handshake_on_connect=True,
                     self.close()
                 except OSError:
                     pass
-                raise notconn_pre_handshake_data_error
+                try:
+                    raise notconn_pre_handshake_data_error
+                finally:
+                    # Explicitly break the reference cycle.
+                    notconn_pre_handshake_data_error = None
         else:
             connected = True