diff --git a/Modules/socketmodule.c b/Modules/socketmodule.c
index 70da7c5b188..414994e181f 100644
--- a/Modules/socketmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/socketmodule.c
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ new_sockobject(SOCKET_T fd, int family, int type, int proto)
 /* Lock to allow python interpreter to continue, but only allow one
    thread to be in gethostbyname or getaddrinfo */
 #if defined(USE_GETHOSTBYNAME_LOCK) || defined(USE_GETADDRINFO_LOCK)
-PyThread_type_lock netdb_lock;
+static PyThread_type_lock netdb_lock;
 #endif