gpshead · Feb 11, 2026 · Feb 10, 2026
@@ -1364,6 +1364,14 @@ def _find_and_load(name, import_):
         # NOTE: because of this, initializing must be set *before*
         # putting the new module in sys.modules.
         _lock_unlock_module(name)
+    else:
+        # Verify the module is still in sys.modules. Another thread may have
+        # removed it (due to import failure) between our sys.modules.get()
+        # above and the _initializing check. If removed, we retry the import
+        # to preserve normal semantics: the caller gets the exception from
+        # the actual import failure rather than a synthetic error.
+        if sys.modules.get(name) is not module:
+            return _find_and_load(name, import_)
 
     if module is None:
         message = f'import of {name} halted; None in sys.modules'

@@ -259,6 +259,71 @@ def test_multiprocessing_pool_circular_import(self, size):
                           'partial', 'pool_in_threads.py')
         script_helper.assert_python_ok(fn)
 
+    def test_import_failure_race_condition(self):
+        # Regression test for race condition where a thread could receive
+        # a partially-initialized module when another thread's import fails.
+        # The race occurs when:
+        # 1. Thread 1 starts importing, adds module to sys.modules
+        # 2. Thread 2 sees the module in sys.modules
+        # 3. Thread 1's import fails, removes module from sys.modules
+        # 4. Thread 2 should NOT return the stale module reference
+        os.mkdir(TESTFN)
+        self.addCleanup(shutil.rmtree, TESTFN)
+        sys.path.insert(0, TESTFN)
+        self.addCleanup(sys.path.remove, TESTFN)
+
+        # Create a module that partially initializes then fails
+        modname = 'failing_import_module'
+        with open(os.path.join(TESTFN, modname + '.py'), 'w') as f:
+            f.write('''
+import time
+PARTIAL_ATTR = 'initialized'
+time.sleep(0.05)  # Widen race window
+raise RuntimeError("Intentional import failure")
+''')
+        self.addCleanup(forget, modname)
+        importlib.invalidate_caches()
+
+        errors = []
+        results = []
+
+        def do_import(delay=0):
+            time.sleep(delay)
+            try:
+                mod = __import__(modname)
+                # If we got a module, verify it's in sys.modules
+                if modname not in sys.modules:
+                    errors.append(
+                        f"Got module {mod!r} but {modname!r} not in sys.modules"
+                    )
+                elif sys.modules[modname] is not mod:
+                    errors.append(
+                        f"Got different module than sys.modules[{modname!r}]"
+                    )
+                else:
+                    results.append(('success', mod))
+            except RuntimeError:
+                results.append(('RuntimeError',))
+            except Exception as e:
+                errors.append(f"Unexpected exception: {e}")
+
+        # Run multiple iterations to increase chance of hitting the race
+        for _ in range(10):
+            errors.clear()
+            results.clear()
+            if modname in sys.modules:
+                del sys.modules[modname]
+
+            t1 = threading.Thread(target=do_import, args=(0,))
+            t2 = threading.Thread(target=do_import, args=(0.01,))
+            t1.start()
+            t2.start()
+            t1.join()
+            t2.join()
+
+            # Neither thread should have errors about stale modules
+            self.assertEqual(errors, [], f"Race condition detected: {errors}")
+
 
 def setUpModule():
     thread_info = threading_helper.threading_setup()

diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core and Builtins/2026-01-10-10-58-36.gh-issue-143650.k8mR4x.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Core and Builtins/2026-01-10-10-58-36.gh-issue-143650.k8mR4x.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Fix race condition in :mod:`importlib` where a thread could receive a stale
+module reference when another thread's import fails.
@@ -252,12 +252,32 @@ PyImport_GetModule(PyObject *name)
     mod = import_get_module(tstate, name);
     if (mod != NULL && mod != Py_None) {
         if (import_ensure_initialized(tstate->interp, mod, name) < 0) {
+            goto error;
+        }
+        /* Verify the module is still in sys.modules. Another thread may have
+           removed it (due to import failure) between our import_get_module()
+           call and the _initializing check in import_ensure_initialized(). */
+        PyObject *mod_check = import_get_module(tstate, name);
+        if (mod_check != mod) {
+            Py_XDECREF(mod_check);
+            if (_PyErr_Occurred(tstate)) {
+                goto error;
+            }
+            /* The module was removed or replaced. Return NULL to report
+               "not found" rather than trying to keep up with racing
+               modifications to sys.modules; returning the new value would
+               require looping to redo the ensure_initialized check. */
             Py_DECREF(mod);
-            remove_importlib_frames(tstate);
             return NULL;
         }
+        Py_DECREF(mod_check);
     }
     return mod;
+
+error:
+    Py_DECREF(mod);
+    remove_importlib_frames(tstate);
+    return NULL;
 }
 
 /* Get the module object corresponding to a module name.
@@ -3780,6 +3800,27 @@ PyImport_ImportModuleLevelObject(PyObject *name, PyObject *globals,
         if (import_ensure_initialized(tstate->interp, mod, abs_name) < 0) {
             goto error;
         }
+        /* Verify the module is still in sys.modules. Another thread may have
+           removed it (due to import failure) between our import_get_module()
+           call and the _initializing check in import_ensure_initialized().
+           If removed, we retry the import to preserve normal semantics: the
+           caller gets the exception from the actual import failure rather
+           than a synthetic error. */
+        PyObject *mod_check = import_get_module(tstate, abs_name);
+        if (mod_check != mod) {
+            Py_XDECREF(mod_check);
+            if (_PyErr_Occurred(tstate)) {
+                goto error;
+            }
+            Py_DECREF(mod);
+            mod = import_find_and_load(tstate, abs_name);
+            if (mod == NULL) {
+                goto error;
+            }
+        }
+        else {
+            Py_DECREF(mod_check);
+        }
     }
     else {
         Py_XDECREF(mod);
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
		@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
		Fix race condition in :mod:`importlib` where a thread could receive a stale
		module reference when another thread's import fails.