diff --git a/src/lxml/tests/test_errors.py b/src/lxml/tests/test_errors.py
index c0aee744..4875f298 100644
--- a/src/lxml/tests/test_errors.py
+++ b/src/lxml/tests/test_errors.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ class ErrorTestCase(HelperTestCase):
     def test_element_cyclic_gc_none(self):
         # test if cyclic reference can crash etree
         Element = self.etree.Element
-        getrefcount = sys.getrefcount
 
         # must disable tracing as it could change the refcounts
         trace_func = sys.gettrace()
@@ -36,16 +35,16 @@ class ErrorTestCase(HelperTestCase):
             sys.settrace(None)
             gc.collect()
 
-            count = getrefcount(None)
+            count1 = gc.get_count()
 
             l = [Element('name'), Element('name')]
             l.append(l)
 
             del l
             gc.collect()
-            count = getrefcount(None) - count
+            count2 = gc.get_count()
 
-            self.assertEqual(count, 0)
+            self.assertEqual(count1, count2)
         finally:
             sys.settrace(trace_func)