diff --git a/src/nvim/eval/typval.c b/src/nvim/eval/typval.c
index ab560c041a..c84c7a30ce 100644
--- a/src/nvim/eval/typval.c
+++ b/src/nvim/eval/typval.c
@@ -2494,11 +2494,14 @@ int tv_dict_add_list(dict_T *const d, const char *const key, const size_t key_le
 
   item->di_tv.v_type = VAR_LIST;
   item->di_tv.vval.v_list = list;
-  tv_list_ref(list);
   if (tv_dict_add(d, item) == FAIL) {
+    // Detach "list" so tv_dict_item_free() does not unref it: on failure
+    // ownership stays with the caller.
+    item->di_tv.vval.v_list = NULL;
     tv_dict_item_free(item);
     return FAIL;
   }
+  tv_list_ref(list);
   return OK;
 }