diff --git a/Modules/_asynciomodule.c b/Modules/_asynciomodule.c
index 23cbd48528e0f8..fffa6d25d022ac 100644
--- a/Modules/_asynciomodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_asynciomodule.c
@@ -1928,14 +1928,11 @@ static int
 enter_task(asyncio_state *state, PyObject *loop, PyObject *task)
 {
     PyObject *item;
-    Py_hash_t hash;
-    hash = PyObject_Hash(loop);
-    if (hash == -1) {
+    int res = PyDict_SetDefaultRef(state->current_tasks, loop, task, &item);
+    if (res < 0) {
         return -1;
     }
-    item = _PyDict_GetItem_KnownHash(state->current_tasks, loop, hash);
-    if (item != NULL) {
-        Py_INCREF(item);
+    else if (res == 1) {
         PyErr_Format(
             PyExc_RuntimeError,
             "Cannot enter into task %R while another " \
@@ -1944,10 +1941,8 @@ enter_task(asyncio_state *state, PyObject *loop, PyObject *task)
         Py_DECREF(item);
         return -1;
     }
-    if (PyErr_Occurred()) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-    return _PyDict_SetItem_KnownHash(state->current_tasks, loop, task, hash);
+    Py_DECREF(item);
+    return 0;
 }