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diff --git a/Cython/Utility/ModuleSetupCode.c b/Cython/Utility/ModuleSetupCode.c
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index 2aeabd2..8b285bb 100644
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--- a/Cython/Utility/ModuleSetupCode.c
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+++ b/Cython/Utility/ModuleSetupCode.c
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@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ static CYTHON_INLINE void * PyThread_tss_get(Py_tss_t *key) {
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 #if defined(__clang__)
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     #define CYTHON_SMALL_CODE
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 #elif defined(__GNUC__)
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-    #define CYTHON_SMALL_CODE __attribute__((optimize("Os")))
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+    #define CYTHON_SMALL_CODE __attribute__((cold))
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 #else
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     #define CYTHON_SMALL_CODE
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 #endif