1 files changed, 10 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/encoding.c b/encoding.c
index f2e67ff508..e713b0a922 100644
--- a/encoding.c
+++ b/encoding.c
@@ -779,8 +779,18 @@ enc_get_index_str(VALUE str)
     if (i == ENCODING_INLINE_MAX) {
 	VALUE iv;
 
+#if 0
 	iv = rb_ivar_get(str, rb_id_encoding());
 	i = NUM2INT(iv);
+#else
+        /*
+         * Tentatively, assume ASCII-8BIT, if encoding index instance
+         * variable is not found.  This can happen when freeing after
+         * all instance variables are removed in `obj_free`.
+         */
+        iv = rb_attr_get(str, rb_id_encoding());
+        i = NIL_P(iv) ? ENCINDEX_ASCII : NUM2INT(iv);
+#endif
     }
     return i;
 }