diff --git a/Doc/using/cmdline.rst b/Doc/using/cmdline.rst
index 55bc128..15d5830 100644
--- a/Doc/using/cmdline.rst
+++ b/Doc/using/cmdline.rst
@@ -664,6 +664,13 @@ if Python was configured with the ``--with-pydebug`` build option.
    If set, Python will print memory allocation statistics every time a new
    object arena is created, and on shutdown.
 
+.. envvar:: PYTHONSHOWREFCOUNT
+
+   If set, Python will print the total reference count when the program
+   finishes or after each statement in the interactive interpreter.
+
+   .. versionadded:: 2.7.15
+
 .. envvar:: PYTHONSHOWALLOCCOUNT
 
    If set and Python was compiled with ``COUNT_ALLOCS`` defined, Python will
diff --git a/Doc/whatsnew/2.7.rst b/Doc/whatsnew/2.7.rst
index f0d2428..b29593a 100644
--- a/Doc/whatsnew/2.7.rst
+++ b/Doc/whatsnew/2.7.rst
@@ -2548,6 +2548,10 @@ longer dumped by default anymore: the :envvar:`PYTHONSHOWALLOCCOUNT` environment
 variable must now also be set. Moreover, allocation counts are now dumped into
 stderr, rather than stdout. (Contributed by Victor Stinner; :issue:`31692`.)
 
+In debug mode, the ``[xxx refs]`` statistic is not written by default, the
+:envvar:`PYTHONSHOWREFCOUNT` environment variable now must also be set.
+(Contributed by Victor Stinner; :issue:`31733`.)
+
 .. versionadded:: 2.7.15
 
 
diff --git a/Python/pythonrun.c b/Python/pythonrun.c
index d17f7f3..eb31e34 100644
--- a/Python/pythonrun.c
+++ b/Python/pythonrun.c
@@ -37,14 +37,6 @@
 #include "windows.h"
 #endif
 
-#ifndef Py_REF_DEBUG
-#define PRINT_TOTAL_REFS()
-#else /* Py_REF_DEBUG */
-#define PRINT_TOTAL_REFS() fprintf(stderr,                              \
-                   "[%" PY_FORMAT_SIZE_T "d refs]\n",                   \
-                   _Py_GetRefTotal())
-#endif
-
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
@@ -104,6 +96,21 @@ PyModule_GetWarningsModule(void)
     return PyImport_ImportModule("warnings");
 }
 
+static void
+_PyDebug_PrintTotalRefs(void)
+{
+#ifdef Py_REF_DEBUG
+    Py_ssize_t total;
+
+    if (!Py_GETENV("PYTHONSHOWREFCOUNT")) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    total = _Py_GetRefTotal();
+    fprintf(stderr, "[%" PY_FORMAT_SIZE_T "d refs]\n", total);
+#endif
+}
+
 static int initialized = 0;
 
 /* API to access the initialized flag -- useful for esoteric use */
@@ -486,7 +493,7 @@ Py_Finalize(void)
     }
 #endif
 
-    PRINT_TOTAL_REFS();
+    _PyDebug_PrintTotalRefs();
 
 #ifdef Py_TRACE_REFS
     /* Display all objects still alive -- this can invoke arbitrary
@@ -777,7 +784,7 @@ PyRun_InteractiveLoopFlags(FILE *fp, const char *filename, PyCompilerFlags *flag
     }
     for (;;) {
         ret = PyRun_InteractiveOneFlags(fp, filename, flags);
-        PRINT_TOTAL_REFS();
+        _PyDebug_PrintTotalRefs();
         if (ret == E_EOF)
             return 0;
         /*