diff --git a/vm/src/pyobject.rs b/vm/src/pyobject.rs
index f3f40ddbd..954cf5b3a 100644
--- a/vm/src/pyobject.rs
+++ b/vm/src/pyobject.rs
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-pub trait TypeProtocol {
+pub trait TypeProtocol: AsPyObject {
     fn class(&self) -> PyLease<'_, PyType>;
 
     fn clone_class(&self) -> PyTypeRef {
@@ -524,12 +524,6 @@ impl<T: PyObjectPayload> TypeProtocol for PyRef<T> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: TypeProtocol> TypeProtocol for &'_ T {
-    fn class(&self) -> PyLease<'_, PyType> {
-        (&**self).class()
-    }
-}
-
 impl<T, P> IntoPyRef<P> for T
 where
     P: PyValue + IntoPyObject + From<T>,