python · nascheme · Aug 18, 2026
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_free_threading/test_type.py b/Lib/test/test_free_threading/test_type.py
@@ -181,5 +181,26 @@ def wrapper():
         for reader in readers:
             reader.join()
 
+    def test_setattr_many_subclasses(self):
+        # gh-155978: Updating a special method queues a slot update for every
+        # affected subclass.  Keep enough subclasses alive to require
+        # heap-allocated queue chunks in addition to the stack chunk.
+        class Base:
+            pass
+
+        subclasses = [type(f"Sub{i}", (Base,), {}) for i in range(100)]
+
+        def custom_repr(self):
+            return "custom repr"
+
+        Base.__repr__ = custom_repr
+        self.assertTrue(all(repr(cls()) == "custom repr"
+                            for cls in subclasses))
+
+        del Base.__repr__
+        self.assertTrue(all(repr(cls()) != "custom repr"
+                            for cls in subclasses))
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core_and_Builtins/2026-08-17-15-13-14.gh-issue-155978.4ztALD.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core_and_Builtins/2026-08-17-15-13-14.gh-issue-155978.4ztALD.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Fix a memory leak in the free-threaded build when setting or deleting a
+special method (such as ``__repr__``) on a class that has many subclasses.
@@ -6726,24 +6726,29 @@ static int
 update_slot_after_setattr(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *name)
 {
 #ifdef Py_GIL_DISABLED
-    // stack allocate one chunk since that's all we need
     assert(SLOT_UPDATE_CHUNK_SIZE >= MAX_EQUIV);
     slot_update_chunk_t chunk = {0};
+    // Stack allocate the first chunk.  It is usually the only one needed but
+    // updates are queued for subclasses as well, so more chunks are needed if
+    // the type has more than SLOT_UPDATE_CHUNK_SIZE subclasses.
     slot_update_t queued_updates = {&chunk};
 
-    if (update_slot(type, name, &queued_updates) < 0) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-    if (queued_updates.head->n > 0) {
+    int res = update_slot(type, name, &queued_updates);
+    if (res == 0 && queued_updates.head->n > 0) {
         apply_type_slot_updates(&queued_updates);
         ASSERT_TYPE_LOCK_HELD();
-        // should never allocate another chunk
-        assert(chunk.prev == NULL);
     }
+    slot_update_chunk_t *cur = queued_updates.head;
+    while (cur != &chunk) {
+        slot_update_chunk_t *prev = cur->prev;
+        PyMem_Free(cur);
+        cur = prev;
+    }
+    return res;
 #else
     update_slot(type, name, NULL);
-#endif
     return 0;
+#endif
 }
 
 static int
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
		@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
		Fix a memory leak in the free-threaded build when setting or deleting a
		special method (such as ``__repr__``) on a class that has many subclasses.