diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py
index b44840272c9..6caaece82c4 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class _RPCState(object):
         self.statused = False
         self.rpc_errors = []
         self.callbacks = []
-        self.abortion = None
+        self.aborted = False
 
 
 def _raise_rpc_error(state):
@@ -287,8 +287,8 @@ class _Context(grpc.ServicerContext):
         with self._state.condition:
             self._state.code = code
             self._state.details = _common.encode(details)
-            self._state.abortion = Exception()
-            raise self._state.abortion
+            self._state.aborted = True
+            raise Exception()
 
     def abort_with_status(self, status):
         self._state.trailing_metadata = status.trailing_metadata
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ def _call_behavior(rpc_event, state, behavior, argument, request_deserializer):
         return behavior(argument, context), True
     except Exception as exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
         with state.condition:
-            if exception is state.abortion:
+            if state.aborted:
                 _abort(state, rpc_event.call, cygrpc.StatusCode.unknown,
                        b'RPC Aborted')
             elif exception not in state.rpc_errors:
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ def _take_response_from_response_iterator(rpc_event, state, response_iterator):
         return None, True
     except Exception as exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
         with state.condition:
-            if exception is state.abortion:
+            if state.aborted:
                 _abort(state, rpc_event.call, cygrpc.StatusCode.unknown,
                        b'RPC Aborted')
             elif exception not in state.rpc_errors:
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_abort_test.py b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_abort_test.py
index 6438f6897a0..636f1379ad8 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_abort_test.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_abort_test.py
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
 
 import unittest
 import collections
+import gc
 import logging
+import weakref
 
 import grpc
 
@@ -39,7 +41,15 @@ class _Status(
     pass
 
 
+class _Object(object):
+    pass
+
+
+do_not_leak_me = _Object()
+
+
 def abort_unary_unary(request, servicer_context):
+    this_should_not_be_leaked = do_not_leak_me
     servicer_context.abort(
         grpc.StatusCode.INTERNAL,
         _ABORT_DETAILS,
@@ -101,6 +111,24 @@ class AbortTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(rpc_error.code(), grpc.StatusCode.INTERNAL)
         self.assertEqual(rpc_error.details(), _ABORT_DETAILS)
 
+    # This test ensures that abort() does not store the raised exception, which
+    # on Python 3 (via the `__traceback__` attribute) holds a reference to
+    # all local vars. Storing the raised exception can prevent GC and stop the
+    # grpc_call from being unref'ed, even after server shutdown.
+    def test_abort_does_not_leak_local_vars(self):
+        global do_not_leak_me  # pylint: disable=global-statement
+        weak_ref = weakref.ref(do_not_leak_me)
+
+        # Servicer will abort() after creating a local ref to do_not_leak_me.
+        with self.assertRaises(grpc.RpcError) as exception_context:
+            self._channel.unary_unary(_ABORT)(_REQUEST)
+        rpc_error = exception_context.exception
+
+        do_not_leak_me = None
+        # Force garbage collection
+        gc.collect()
+        self.assertIsNone(weak_ref())
+
     def test_abort_with_status(self):
         with self.assertRaises(grpc.RpcError) as exception_context:
             self._channel.unary_unary(_ABORT_WITH_STATUS)(_REQUEST)