diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/channel.pyx.pxi b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/channel.pyx.pxi
index 1f1833d5ecc..bc03c4dcf19 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/channel.pyx.pxi
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/channel.pyx.pxi
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ cdef class Channel:
       self, grpc_connectivity_state last_observed_state,
       Timespec deadline not None, CompletionQueue queue not None, tag):
     cdef OperationTag operation_tag = OperationTag(tag)
-    operation_tag.references = [self, queue]
     cpython.Py_INCREF(operation_tag)
     grpc_channel_watch_connectivity_state(
         self.c_channel, last_observed_state, deadline.c_time,
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/server.pyx.pxi b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/server.pyx.pxi
index fe93da6c124..5f859235246 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/server.pyx.pxi
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/server.pyx.pxi
@@ -106,7 +106,6 @@ cdef class Server:
     self.is_shutting_down = True
     operation_tag = OperationTag(tag)
     operation_tag.shutting_down_server = self
-    operation_tag.references.extend([self, queue])
     cpython.Py_INCREF(operation_tag)
     grpc_server_shutdown_and_notify(
         self.c_server, queue.c_completion_queue,