diff --git a/include/pybind11/detail/internals.h b/include/pybind11/detail/internals.h
index 4f8de120f..003ee6e15 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/detail/internals.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/detail/internals.h
@@ -286,8 +286,8 @@ struct internals {
     internals()
         : static_property_type(make_static_property_type()),
           default_metaclass(make_default_metaclass()) {
+        tstate.set(nullptr); // See PR #5870
         PyThreadState *cur_tstate = PyThreadState_Get();
-        tstate = cur_tstate;
 
         istate = cur_tstate->interp;
         registered_exception_translators.push_front(&translate_exception);
diff --git a/include/pybind11/subinterpreter.h b/include/pybind11/subinterpreter.h
index 4b208ed9b..5d2f0a839 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/subinterpreter.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/subinterpreter.h
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ inline subinterpreter_scoped_activate::subinterpreter_scoped_activate(subinterpr
     // make the interpreter active and acquire the GIL
     old_tstate_ = PyThreadState_Swap(tstate_);
 
-    // save this in internals for scoped_gil calls
+    // save this in internals for scoped_gil calls (see also: PR #5870)
     detail::get_internals().tstate = tstate_;
 }