diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pyx.pxi b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pyx.pxi
index c139147114b..e11138b1cd8 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pyx.pxi
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pyx.pxi
@@ -140,7 +140,8 @@ cdef class CompletionQueue:
         grpc_completion_queue_shutdown(self.c_completion_queue)
       # Pump the queue
       while not self.is_shutdown:
-        event = grpc_completion_queue_next(
-            self.c_completion_queue, c_deadline, NULL)
+        with nogil:
+          event = grpc_completion_queue_next(
+              self.c_completion_queue, c_deadline, NULL)
         self._interpret_event(event)
       grpc_completion_queue_destroy(self.c_completion_queue)