diff --git a/compile.c b/compile.c
index 7e8b6c37b8..24d980e95f 100644
--- a/compile.c
+++ b/compile.c
@@ -2796,9 +2796,11 @@ iseq_set_exception_table(rb_iseq_t *iseq)
     struct iseq_catch_table_entry *entry;
 
     ISEQ_BODY(iseq)->catch_table = NULL;
-    if (NIL_P(ISEQ_COMPILE_DATA(iseq)->catch_table_ary)) return COMPILE_OK;
-    tlen = (int)RARRAY_LEN(ISEQ_COMPILE_DATA(iseq)->catch_table_ary);
-    tptr = RARRAY_CONST_PTR(ISEQ_COMPILE_DATA(iseq)->catch_table_ary);
+
+    VALUE catch_table_ary = ISEQ_COMPILE_DATA(iseq)->catch_table_ary;
+    if (NIL_P(catch_table_ary)) return COMPILE_OK;
+    tlen = (int)RARRAY_LEN(catch_table_ary);
+    tptr = RARRAY_CONST_PTR(catch_table_ary);
 
     if (tlen > 0) {
         struct iseq_catch_table *table = xmalloc(iseq_catch_table_bytes(tlen));
@@ -2834,6 +2836,8 @@ iseq_set_exception_table(rb_iseq_t *iseq)
         RB_OBJ_WRITE(iseq, &ISEQ_COMPILE_DATA(iseq)->catch_table_ary, 0); /* free */
     }
 
+    RB_GC_GUARD(catch_table_ary);
+
     return COMPILE_OK;
 }