1 files changed, 2 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/av.c b/av.c
index 918844c376..f10f1247f4 100644
--- a/av.c
+++ b/av.c
@@ -356,8 +356,8 @@ Perl_av_store(pTHX_ AV *av, SSize_t key, SV *val)
 	}
 	AvFILLp(av) = key;
     }
-    else if (AvREAL(av))
-	SvREFCNT_dec(ary[key]);
+    else if (AvREAL(av) && LIKELY(ary[key] != val))
+        SvREFCNT_dec(ary[key]);
     ary[key] = val;
     if (SvSMAGICAL(av)) {
 	const MAGIC *mg = SvMAGIC(av);