diff --git a/Include/cpython/pystate.h b/Include/cpython/pystate.h
index cfaee890f97151..ddfbc06a1dc7c3 100644
--- a/Include/cpython/pystate.h
+++ b/Include/cpython/pystate.h
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #  error "this header file must not be included directly"
 #endif
 
-#include "cpython/initconfig.h"
+#include "initconfig.h"
 
 PyAPI_FUNC(int) _PyInterpreterState_RequiresIDRef(PyInterpreterState *);
 PyAPI_FUNC(void) _PyInterpreterState_RequireIDRef(PyInterpreterState *, int);
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/C API/2021-03-04-18-35-26.bpo-40642.cPnmu2.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/C API/2021-03-04-18-35-26.bpo-40642.cPnmu2.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..f2e867bfd2412e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/C API/2021-03-04-18-35-26.bpo-40642.cPnmu2.rst	
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Use file-relative include for ``initconfig.h`` in ``pystate.h``.